Ahmedabad, India – The IPL 2025 final, which gave Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) their first trophy, will not just be remembered for RCB’s victory. The match will also be remembered for the heartbreaking fifty of Punjab Kings’ Shashank Singh, who single-handedly held on through the night after his team came close to victory. His amazing innings of 61* off 30 balls gave Punjab Kings fans hope for a moment, but eventually, RCB’s disciplined bowling proved to be too much.
The Final Nerves and a Lone Warrior:
Batting first, RCB posted a challenging score of 190/9. Virat Kohli (43) and Rajat Patidar (26) scored runs, but Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson from Punjab Kings’ side stopped RCB from scoring big by taking 3-3 wickets. The target was 191 runs and it was difficult to achieve it on this pitch.
Punjab Kings did not have a good start. Their top-order batsmen like Phil Salt (16) and Mayank Agarwal (24) got out after a quick start. When Punjab Kings’ score was 98/4 and the 13th over of the innings was in progress, Shashank Singh came to the crease. Krunal Pandya’s (2/17) tight bowling gave momentum to RCB and it looked like the match would be one-sided.
But Shashank Singh had something else in mind.
Shashank Singh’s magic: emotion in every shot:
Shashank Singh took some time initially, understood the pitch, and then started playing his shots. He made a small partnership with Nehal Wadhera and took the score forward. When Wadhera got out, there was more pressure on Shashank. He knew that he had to achieve this target almost single-handedly. His innings was not only full of strength but also smart cricket. He found gaps, took singles and doubles, and hit big shots whenever he got the chance. He attacked the spinners and did not spare the fast bowlers either. With every six and boundary, the dug-out and fans of Punjab Kings were getting a new life. He hit big shots even against experienced bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. In the 19th over, when Punjab Kings needed 29 runs, Shashank hit two sixes and a four off Hazlewood. There was silence in the stadium for a moment and then the voices of Shashank’s fans started to be heard. Seeing his batting, it seemed that perhaps he would do a miracle. He scored 61* runs in 30 balls, which included 3 fours and 6 towering sixes.
The thrill of the last over and broken hopes:
Punjab Kings needed 29 runs in the final over and Shashank Singh was on strike. RCB fans were left breathless. Josh Hazlewood bowled the over and Shashank smashed two and a six. But a few dot balls and a single in the beginning put the innings out of reach for Punjab Kings. His efforts went in vain and Punjab Kings were stuck at 184/7, losing the match by 6 runs.
Disappointment was visible in the eyes of Shashank Singh, who remained not out. He gave everything from his side, but was unable to guide the team to victory.
A memorable loss:
The IPL 2025 final was historic for RCB, but this innings of Shashank Singh will also be remembered by cricket fans for a long time. He showed what a big match winner he can be. His fifty was on a losing night, but the spirit of a champion was clearly visible in it.
This innings was heartbreaking for Punjab Kings fans, but Shashank Singh once again proved that he is one of the unsung heroes of IPL, who can perform well even under pressure. The next time Shashank Singh comes to bat, fans will expect similar fearless batting from him. He could not get the cup for his team, but he definitely made a name for himself!