Overview

• Punjab Kings fell six runs short of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad as Shashank Singh finished 61 not out, taking 22 off the last four balls while PBKS ended at 184/7 chasing 191.
• Singh said players and team owners were in tears in the dressing room after the loss and described how the disappointment lingered even as he returned to state cricket the next day.
• He recounted being run out in Qualifier 2 when Hardik Pandya broke the stumps as he walked toward the crease and said captain Shreyas Iyer’s on-field scolding was fair and deserved.
• Singh credited Ricky Ponting and Iyer with boosting his confidence by labeling him a match-winner and urging him to play with freedom in a dressing room that avoided hierarchies.
• He noted PBKS retained him for INR 5.5 crore and that he has 704 runs in 31 games across two seasons, outlined India A as his pathway to the national team, and argued selection should be based on merit rather than age.