Preity Zinta hails 'truly special' Shashank Singh for overcoming auction rumours

PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta heaped massive praise on all-rounder Shashank Singh, calling him a truly special player. Shashank played a match-winning knock for Punjab to guide them to a crucial 3-wicket win over Gujarat at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Shashank had to bear the brunt of several rumours circulating around his acquisition by the Mohali-based franchise at the IPL 2024 mini-auction held in Dubai last year. He was roped in by PBKS for his base price of Rs 20 lakh ahead of the 2024 season.

Following Punjab’s win in Ahmedabad, Zinta took to social media platform ‘X’ to laud Shashank for his positive attitude and incredible spirit, while calling him a truly special player. The 32-year-old was in the centre of speculation that PBKS made a blunder in the IPL 2024 mini-auction by signing him, while wanting to acquire his 19-year-old namesake. Shashank had previously been part of Delhi, Rajasthan, Pune and Hyderabad before joining PBKS.

“Today seems like the perfect day to finally talk about things that were said in the past about us at the auction. A lot of people in similar situations would have lost confidence, buckled under pressure or become de-motivated but



not Shashank! He is not like a lot of people. He is truly special. Not just because of his skill as a player but because of his positive attitude and incredible spirit,” Zinta posted on ‘X’.

“He took all the comments, jokes and brick bats so sportingly and never became a victim. He backed himself and showed us what he is made of, and for that I applaud him. He has my admiration and my respect. I hope he can be an example to all of you when life takes a different turn and does not play according to script, for it’s not what people think of you that matters, but what you think of yourself! So never stop believing in yourself like Shashank and I’m sure you will be Man of the match in the game of life,” her post added.

The rumours emerged after Shashank was sold for his starting bid of Rs 20 lakh. Following his sale, Punjab Kings co-owners Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia appeared to speak with auctioneer Malika Sagar. However, the franchise later confirmed that they wanted to buy the 32-year-old and not his teenage namesake.

Following their win over Gujarat, PBKS will turn their attention to SRH, with the two sides set to clash in Mohali on Tuesday, April 9.