Shashank Singh had only faced ten balls at the crease when Punjab Kings entered the final over of their innings against Gujarat Titans. At the other end stood his captain, Shreyas Iyer, on 97; well set after smashing nine sixes but still in search of his maiden IPL century.

However, Shashank revealed that he was instructed to "hit every ball for a four or a six" rather than focus on giving Shreyas the strike. He followed the plan perfectly, smashing five boundaries to take 23 runs off the final over, propelling PBKS to 243 for 5 in their IPL 2025 opener—a total that proved 11 runs beyond GT’s chase.

"I didn't see the scoreboard to be very honest, but after the first ball I hit, I saw the scoreboard and Shreyas was on 97," Shashank said after the match. "I was going to ask him if I should take a single or something but he only came and told me to not worry about his hundred. It takes a lot of heart and courage to say that because obviously hundreds don't come easily in T20, especially in IPL. That gave me even more confidence."

Iyer and Shashank put together an unbroken 81-run partnership off just 28 balls, powering PBKS to 77 runs in the final four overs. Batting at No. 3 in the IPL for the first time since 2022, Iyer faced only four deliveries in the last three overs of the innings. Shashank played a blistering knock of 44 off 16 balls, while Iyer remained unbeaten on 97 off 42. 

"It's a team game we all know, but then in those situations, it's difficult to be that selfless but Shreyas was one," Shashank, who began his domestic career with Mumbai before moving to Chhattisgarh, said. "I know him for the past 15 years, he is the same. He told me just to be calm, to play cricketing shots that I usually play, to maintain my balance and by God's grace, I think we had a good finish."