Shashank Singh (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) MULLANPUR: In a game dominated by big hits and quick momentum swings, it was a quieter moment of confidence that stood out. Shreyas Iyer, who read the situation rather than the script, turned to part-timer Shashank Singh to read it at a time when Sunrisers openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head were dismantling Punjab’s leading bowlers with ease. It wasn’t the most obvious move in a high-scoring contest, but it reflected a captain willing to encourage instinct and a player ready to take responsibility. That brief exchange in the middle overs, as Iyer later explained, ultimately shaped the course of the game.
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How Justin Langer’s faith helped Mukul Choudhary shine “We all got together and Shashank came up to me and said, ‘Give it to me’. Ricky Ponting came and asked me, ‘What do you think? I said, ‘I’ll go with Shashank.’ I needed someone to take the pace,” said Iyer, recalling the moment that changed the pace. That faith was immediately rewarded when Shashank sent back both Sunrisers’ openers. “He has lived up to my expectations; he has lived up to what he said, credit to him. At the end of the day, we all know we have the skills. All we need is a strong mindset,” Iyer added. We miss Cummins: Aaron Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling coach Varun Aaron struck a measured tone while talking about the two realities that shaped his game against Punjab Kings. First, the absence of regular captain and premiership fast bowler Pat Cummins; the other, a shift that promised more than it ended up delivering. “There’s no two ways we miss Pat (Cummins),” Aaron said, highlighting the void after the Australian quick. “Obviously we miss him because he’s one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He’s been at the top of his game for a while now. And he’s someone who can get us wickets with the new ball, in the middle and even at the death.” “I’m sure he’ll be back and join the team soon,” added Aaron. If that was one part of the story, the other was how Sunrisers’ innings tapered off after a flying start. “As we started, we thought we’d get a few more runs. There’s no two ways we’re going to miss some runs,” Aaron admitted. “But you have to understand that the opponents also came to play. They bowled brilliantly through the middle stages, hit their lengths well and didn’t make it easy for our batsmen.”
