Punjab Kings' Shashank Singh Switches To A New Team For 2026-27 Domestic Season

Shashank Singh [Source: X]

Shashank Singh has decided to switch teams in domestic cricket ahead of the 2026-27 BCCI domestic season. The cricketer is set to leave the Chhattisgarh cricket team and re-join Pondicherry as one of their few guest players. 

The Punjab Kings star previously played for Pondicherry in Indian domestic cricket back in 2018 and 2019. 

Shashank criticizes Chhattisgarh for repeated snubs, joins Pondicherry

Shashank Singh joined the Chhattisgarh cricket team ahead of the 2019-20 edition of the Indian domestic season. Ending his association with Chhattisgarh after seven years, the 34-year-old has now criticized the state board for not supporting him during his injuries.

While speaking with the Times of India, the Punjab Kings star said that he has already received his NoC from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh and will now be moving to Pondicherry for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

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He said “I’ve taken the NOC from CSCS and am moving to Pondicherry from the 2026-27 season. I suffered serious shoulder and finger injuries (fracture on the right finger) last season, but the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh didn’t support me at all in this phase. Post the season, they didn’t put my name in the list of players for the Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League 2026. I asked why they didn't put my name. There was no response.”

Shashank Singh added that he has been told that he only prioritizes IPL cricket for the Punjab Kings franchise and not for Chhattisgarh in domestic cricket. Denying such claims, the hard-hitting middle-order batter stated that he was adjudged India’s best all-rounder by the BCCI just last year.

He added “I was told that I only want to play in the IPL, and not for Chhattisgarh in domestic cricket. The reality is that just last year (in Feb 2025), I was adjudged as India's best all-rounder in the white-ball circuit by the BCCI, when I was named as the recipient of the prestigious Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder in Domestic Limited Overs Competitions for the 2023-24 season.”

Shashank Singh wants to sharpen all-round skills at Pondicherry

Awaiting his second stint with Pondicherry, Shashank Singh also stated that he wants to focus on white-ball cricket, which is why he will be making himself unavailable from red-ball tournaments this year. 

The 34-year-old wants to sharpen his all-round skills, as he is intending to bowl his full quota of four overs in T20 matches going ahead. 

Shashank said “My body is still fresh. This is why I am focusing more on white-ball cricket, and taking a break from red-ball cricket for this season. I am a proper all-rounder. I’m focusing on bowling my full quota of four overs in T20 cricket, for both Pondicherry and for Punjab Kings in the IPL.”

Shashank Singh’s record in white-ball cricket

With Shashank Singh prioritizing white-ball cricket this season for the Pondicherry team, the cricketer already holds an impressive track record in the two limited-overs formats. 

In 35 List A games, Singh has registered 1,054 runs in 30 innings at an average of 40.53 and a strike rate of 109.44. In 110 T20 matches, the hard-hitting batter has bludgeoned 1,763 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 146.67 with an average of 25.55.

He has also picked up 62 wickets in the two red-ball formats combined to emerge as a formidable all-round candidate in domestic cricket. The two huge awards he received from the BCCI in recent years is a testament to his skill set as a batting all-rounder. 

Shashank Singh to return to domestic cricket after major scandal

Not long ago, Shashank Singh was facing criminal offense charges from his domestic cook, Vipendra Singh Tomar. However, the cricketer has since maintained his innocence, and even cited Vipendra’s own past criminal history. 

In any case, the Punjab Kings vice-captain will be aiming to put his domestic scandal behind by making the most of his new opportunity at Pondicherry this year.

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