Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan heaped praise on Shashank Singh after their three-wicket win against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday. PBKS chased down 200 runs, the highest so far in IPL 2024, to register their second win of the season.

The visitors found themselves tottering at 70-4 after 8.4 overs and were soon reduced to 111-5 after 12.2 overs. However, Shashank Singh, whom PBKS had bid mistakenly in the IPL 2024 auction, was able to hit the ground running to keep his team in the contest.

Shashank scored his maiden IPL fifty off just 25 balls but needed support from the other end after Jitesh Sharma was dismissed after an 8-ball 16. Impact substitute Ashutosh Sharma gave that support as the debutant smashed 31 off just 17 balls. Singh also went on to score an unbeaten 61 off just 29 balls with the help of six fours and four sixes to get his team over the line.

Shikhar Dhawan said in the post-match presentation, “It was an amazing game, very very close, I’m glad the boys did the job. The plan was to give a good start but I got out unfortunately but we were around 60 runs at the end of the powerplay, we kept building partnerships and Shashank came in and played really well.”

Dhawan added, “The way Shashank came in and hit those sixes, it was brilliant, the way he hit the ball, it looked effortless. He started from No. 7 and is now showing his positive mindset. He is playing in the IPL after a long time and he played so well.”

Dhawan also praised debutant Ashutosh for his impactful knock as he concluded, “I will also mention Ashutosh, he came in and played a good knock under pressure.”

Punjab Kings will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on Tuesday.