By Sanjay Menon — 3 August 2026 — 3 min read Shashank Singh, the vice-captain for Punjab Kings in the IPL, has confirmed his departure from Chhattisgarh to join Pondicherry for the upcoming 2026-27 domestic season. The 34-year-old all-rounder cited a lack of support from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) during an injury-plagued period as the primary reason for his move. Singh stated that he suffered serious shoulder and finger injuries last season, including a fracture on his right finger, but felt unsupported by the state association. Following the season, his name was not included in the list of players for the Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League 2026, nor was he part of the squad that traveled to Bengaluru for a pre-season camp. He noted that his inquiries regarding these omissions received no response. Reasons for the move Shashank Singh expressed his disappointment over the alleged lack of communication and support from the CSCS. He recounted being told that he was only interested in playing in the IPL and not for Chhattisgarh in domestic cricket. Singh countered this by highlighting that he was recognized as India’s best white-ball all-rounder by the BCCI just last year, receiving the Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder in Domestic Limited Overs Competitions for the 2023-24 season. He has obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the CSCS, paving the way for his transition to Pondicherry. P Damodaran, former president of the Cricket Association of Pondicherry, confirmed that Singh and Prasad Pawar, a wicketkeeper-batsman from Mumbai, will join as guest players for the upcoming domestic season, with plans to finalize a third guest player soon. Focus on white-ball cricket and past performances For the upcoming season, Shashank Singh intends to focus exclusively on white-ball cricket, taking a break from the red-ball format. He aims to establish himself as a complete all-rounder, capable of bowling his full quota of four overs in T20 cricket for both Pondicherry and Punjab Kings in the IPL. He emphasized that his body remains fresh, which supports this strategic shift. Singh has a strong record in domestic white-ball cricket. In the 2024-25 season, he scored 450 runs and took 11 wickets in seven matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He also contributed 188 runs in seven games during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. His performances earned him the distinction of being the first Indian to score over 150 runs and take five wickets in the same List A game, a feat achieved against Manipur in the 2023-24 season. In the IPL 2025, Singh played a significant role in Punjab Kings’ journey to the final, scoring 350 runs at a strike rate of 153.51. This included an unbeaten 61 runs off just 30 balls in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He had previously represented Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2015, playing three List A games for them until 2018 before returning to Chhattisgarh at the age of 27. Domestic career overview From 2019 onwards, Shashank Singh was a consistent presence in the Chhattisgarh side across all formats. In 24 first-class games for the state, he accumulated 905 runs at an average of 29.9 and secured 16 wickets at an average of 47.87 with his medium pace. His List A statistics are more impressive, with 1,054 runs in 35 matches at an average of 40.53 and 37 wickets. In T20s, his batting average stands at 25.55. Singh’s move to Pondicherry marks a new chapter in his domestic career, following an exit from Chhattisgarh that he described as acrimonious. He is expected to represent Pondicherry from the 2026-27 season. Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com Post navigation Wales and England withdraw support for Infantino’s re-election bid