Domestic Cricket

Shashank Singh — The PBKS Finisher IPL 2026 Can't Ignore

Rahul Sharma 11 April 2026 Updated 11 April 2026 ~5 min read ~850 words

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Shashank Singh is the reason PBKS do not panic when they are 120/4 in the 14th over. The man who hit Josh Hazlewood for 6, 4, 6, 6 off the last four deliveries of the IPL 2025 final is now PBKS' first-choice death-overs finisher in IPL 2026 — and fans searching "shashank singh" during Match 17 vs SRH want to know everything about him.

Quick facts

Detail	Info
Full name	Shashank Singh
Role	Right-hand middle-order finisher
Batting style	Right-hand bat, power-hitter
IPL team	Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Standout trait	Six-hitting from ball one at the death
Signature moment	61 off 30, IPL 2025 final vs RCB

Career IPL stats

Matches: 44
Runs: 791
Average: 39.55
Half-centuries: 5
Highest IPL score: 68*
Joint 2nd-highest six-hitter in the death overs in IPL 2025

Those are rare numbers for a middle-order finisher. A 39.55 average with five fifties tells you this is not a swing-and-hope slogger — this is a batter who has worked out how to close T20 innings.

IPL 2025 — the season he became a franchise player

Shashank had a quiet start to his IPL career but found his footing with Punjab Kings in the 2024 season. In IPL 2025 he went to another level:

350+ runs as the finisher in PBKS' batting order
7 not-outs in 14 innings — a marker of how often he was there at the end
Joint 2nd-highest death-overs six-hitter in the season
IPL 2025 final vs RCB: top-scored with 61 off 30, hitting Josh Hazlewood 6, 4, 6, 6 off the last four balls with the target already out of reach. Pure defiance at the death.

That innings is why, even though PBKS lost the final, Shashank Singh is a name every franchise now respects.

Why PBKS finishes differently with Shashank

Six-hitting from ball one: Most finishers need 3–4 balls to get set. Shashank can launch his first delivery — a rare skill that makes him invaluable when PBKS need 12+ per over from the 18th onwards.
Range-hitting arc: Cow corner through wide long-on is his power zone. He picks length early and clears front leg.
Matchup vs pace: Historically strongest against right-arm pacers at the death — exactly the SRH profile with Cummins, Shami, Simarjeet.
Mental side: In his own words, being a finisher is about "staying calm to pull the team out of tough situations" — a phrase you only get to say if you have actually done it.

Role in the PBKS XI

Under Shreyas Iyer, Shashank has a defined slot:

Entry point: Overs 13–16 depending on situation
Target: 35–50 off 20–25 balls, strike rate 180+
Primary matchup: Right-arm pace at the death
Backup option: Can bat up the order to No. 5 if PBKS lose early wickets

Against SRH in Match 17 at Mullanpur, Shashank has publicly said PBKS "have perfect matchups for SRH batters" — meaning he is locked in and ready to take the Hyderabad pace attack on.

Fantasy Dream11 value

Shashank Singh is one of the best low-ownership Dream11 differentials in IPL 2026:

Captain upside: 140+ points on a not-out fifty at the death
Floor: Even a 20* off 10 with 2 sixes gets 50+ points
Ownership: Usually sub-20% — perfect Grand League differential
Best pair: Stack him with Prabhsimran Singh at the top to cover both PBKS innings phases

For full team build, see our PBKS vs SRH Dream11 Match 17 prediction and the Dream11 Grand League strategy guide.

FAQs

Which team does Shashank Singh play for in IPL 2026? Shashank Singh plays for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2026 as their primary middle-order finisher.

What is Shashank Singh's IPL career average? Shashank averages 39.55 in the IPL across 44 matches, with 791 runs, 5 fifties and a highest score of 68*.

What did Shashank Singh do in the IPL 2025 final? Shashank was PBKS' top scorer with 61 off 30 balls, hitting Josh Hazlewood for 6, 4, 6, 6 off the last four deliveries.

What position does Shashank Singh bat at? Shashank typically enters at No. 6 for PBKS, coming in during overs 13–16 to finish the innings.

Is Shashank Singh a good Dream11 pick? Yes — he is one of the best low-ownership differentials in PBKS Dream11 teams, especially in Grand Leagues, because of his high six-hitting ceiling.

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Rahul Sharma

Expert in: Domestic Cricket

Rahul Sharma has played district-level cricket in Mumbai for 8 years and has personally tested more than 50 bats, pads, gloves, and helmets across different price ranges. He joined CricJosh to help Indian club cricketers make smarter equipment choices without overpaying. His reviews are based on real match and net session use, not sponsored samples.

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Why trust this review: Rahul has used every product in this review across multiple match and net sessions before writing a word. He buys equipment at retail price and accepts no free samples.