‘It feels good that people have started to recognise me now’

How different is the IPL and domestic cricket?

The IPL experience is great. The competitionindomesticcricketisalsotough.whatever performances I have is because of the domestic circuit. I wouldn't say there is too much difference between the IPL and domestic cricket. However, in the IPL you have to handle a lot of mental pressure compared to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or Vijay Hazare Trophy. Maybe the crowd pressure is different in the IPL.

How big was the decision to leave Mumbai after playing there?

It was very hard to be honest. I wasn’t getting the opportunity in the red ball circuit. The competition in Mumbai was immense and Abhishek Nayar, Shivam Dube, Shreyas (Iyer) Surya (Kumar Yadav), Sarfaraz (Khan), all these guys were doing well. As a cricketer, you have a very short span ... 15-16 years. So I didn’t want to miss one year (cooling off period). So I decided to move to my home state Chhattisgarh. Moving from Mumbai to another state was emotional for me. I’d played all my cricket with the Mumbai boys.

Could you talk about your father's involvement in cricket

It was my father’s dream (that I make a name in cricket). He was always protective and caring. He used to stand behind the nets. Once Santosh Shinde (former Mumbai Ranji fast bowler) bowled me thrice with yorkers in the nets. Papa started to scold me. He told me to leave cricket and concentrate on my studies. The other day after the KKR game, I was receiving praise from everyone. But my father had a problem that I was beaten thrice by Sunil Narine. Sometimes I get angry but he gives me a reality check.

You have played with Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer in Mumbai. How has this helped?

They are great friends. If I pick up things from them, it is a big thing. Recently before IPL, asked Surya about his foot placement and the areas he targets when playing the sweep shot. I spoke to Iyer on his fitness, his head position and his training process. I’m grateful that I have such good people around me.

What changes have you experienced post success in the IPL?

It feels good that people have started to recognise me. The number of followers on Instagram has also increased. When I used to play Under-19 cricket, I saw how fans used to run to meet Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane and thought how good they must have felt. Also when I met Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) in Dharamsala. I asked him what I should do better next season. He replied: 'Shashank what happens is that in the second season, a player forgets the process that had worked. The process resulted in success. You gave your best this time and if you have to do better again, don’t forget your process. 90 per cent forget this process, they try new things and that is where their graph goes down'.

You are close to your elder sister. and we have heard she is obsessed with cricket.

She is emotional about me. Whenever anything negative about me is posted on social media, she keeps a tab. She keeps every single newspaper cutting. Last year when I was not in the IPL, I was extremely disappointed. But every other day, I used to get long emails from her about my past performance and about my love for the game.

The other day we were playing against CSK and we didn't know Matheesha Pathirana (fast bowler) was not playing. But a day before the game, she sent me three or four links on how to read Pathirana. Against Mumbai Indians, I got out to Bumrah's slower one. She sent me a 10-page email. I didn't read a single line. I asked her to narrate it because I can't read that much. She is an engineer herself, so she enters into that technical territory.

My sister must have replied to 200 people on social media. She kept on reminding people about my record. She was telling people that he is the (one) that the Punjab Kings wanted... My mother told even cried for a few days”

The auction fiasco (Punjab had initially said they had bought the wrong Shashank Singh) was handled well by you and the franchise. What was the family's reaction at that time?

My sister must have replied to 200 people on social media. She kept on reminding people about my record. She was telling people that he is the Shashank Singh that the Punjab Kings wanted. The other Shashank Singh is an Under-19 cricketer. I am sure he is very talented and he plays for Bengal. After that auction, my sister said that everyone will have an eye on me and if I do well sabke muh band ho jayenge (It will shut down critics).

My mother told me that she even cried for a few days.

What was more satisfying, hitting Jasprit Bumrah for a six or the win against Chandrakant Pandit's KKR?

Shashank bhai has played a brilliant knock against KKR. It was a good win.

That six you hit off Bumrah's bowling, sweeping him. Is that the best shot you have played in your career so far?

No no, it was a cricket shot, it was nothing special, anyone can get hit and anyone can get you out. If you hit someone for a six it is a normal thing. It is not a big thing.

ON THE AUCTION FIASCO

I came to Indore from Ratlam at 11 years old, I used to play in one club in the morning and then later do umpiring. It was a lot of struggle, I stayed alone in Indore in a room with a friend”

Were you not khadoos enough for Chandrakant Pandit's standards and why did you leave MP?

There was no conversation between me and the coach. I scored 80 in the last match I played for Madhya Pradesh. Then Covid came and everything changed. Then I had to go to the Railways.

Who gives you a reality check?

My coach Amey Khurasia. I talk to him frequently. He is my problem solver as well.

ON HIS EARLY STRUGGLES

Your coach Amey Khurasia believes that

Shashank Singh (left) and Ashutosh Sharma have impressed with their daring shots.