Follow UsPunjab Kings (PBKS) overcame Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 26 (Monday) in Jaipur to assure themselves of a top two finish in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 table, meaning that they will get two cracks of making it to the final. They have achieved this feat for the first time since 2014 - the last time they made the final.
However, for PBKS, finishing top two is just half the job done, and batter Shashank Singh says that the team will complete the job on June 3.
"Qualification is half job done, finishing top two is half job done," Shashank revealed what Shreyas Iyer's message was ahead of the MI clash at the post-match press conference.
"The full job will be done on the 3rd of June, I guess. When, late at night, 12 o'clock, we'll have a press conference. That will be the time I'll tell you that, yes, we are at the top of the world."
For Shashank, who has scored 284 runs at a strike rate of 150 this season, the most satisfying part about this season has been the fact that the entire team has contributed to taking them to where they are at the moment. "It feels surreal, to be very honest," Shashank said.
"I mean, it feels really good, very satisfying. And the best thing is, obviously, we manifested as a team. Not individually me, but as a team, we manifested. When the auctions were done, we had a group on WhatsApp, and then we had conversations. So we manifested that this year we will win the title. Our first aim was to finish in the top two and obviously we passed that hurdle.
"But again, manifesting is one thing, believing is another. So we believed, we manifested, and then we worked hard. We worked hard for this. And again, the credit goes to the management, the support staff, literally every single individual associated with Punjab Kings. Not only the players or the coaching staff, but everyone who is associated with us.
"We had four to five camps before the IPL, and then you can see the results. I mean, we are in the top two and it's not easy in a league like the IPL to finish in the top two."
Shashank also had high praise for his skipper, Iyer. The 33-year-old believes playing under Iyer is the best thing that has happened to him. "Shreyas is a very dear friend. I've known him for the past ten to fifteen years. But playing under him, with him being the captain, it was the best thing that has happened to me, to be very honest," he said.
"I mean, the way he gives freedom to everyone, not only me, but to everyone in the team. And when I say everyone, it's all twenty-five players, plus the support staff, the people in the content team, the media team, logistics, everyone. The way he gives them freedom is something very appreciable about him.
"And the way he has developed a culture in the Punjab Kings side. Obviously, we love each other, we care for each other. That was the main motto of Ricky sir and Shreyas from day one, when we had the meeting. That we need to maintain a culture, we need to care for each other. And obviously, results will take care of themselves."
Speaking of head coach Ricky Ponting, Shashank says that the former Australia captain is the best coach he has ever worked under. "I have mentioned two names before. Brian Lara, sir. And now I am mentioning Ricky Ponting, sir. Because he has changed the team culture. He has changed our mindset. He has changed our belief," he said.
"By far, the best team coach I have ever played under.
"Because obviously, he is the one who changed our perspective towards the game. Culture, what I said. Caring about each other. Respecting each other. I mean, it's very easy to say all these things. Obviously, you need to do this, you need to do that. But again, building it is a different thing. So he made sure that he built it.
"On day one, he and Shreyas both told us that they will treat Yuzi [Yuzvendra] Chahal, maybe the most senior player, and our bus driver the same. I mean, this is something. And they have maintained this. They have given the same respect to Yuzhi Chahal as they have to our bus driver. So this says a lot about the team."
PBKS will next be in action in Qualifier 1 in Mullanpur on May 29 (Thursday). They will either play Gujarat Titans (GT) or Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in that clash.