Aakash Chopra Slams Punjab Kings' Treatment of Shashank Singh

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed his disappointment with Punjab Kings' (PBKS) approach in their recent loss to Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Chopra criticized the team's decision to not utilize in-form batter Shashank Singh effectively.

Chasing a target of 193, PBKS lost four early wickets, leaving them in a precarious position. Despite an explosive knock from Ashutosh Sharma, who brought them close to victory, they ultimately fell short by nine runs. Chopra believes that PBKS's decision to treat Singh as a finisher, rather than playing him in the top order, was a major factor in their defeat.

"When your team is 14/4, it seems like the match can't be won because you are too far behind, and your four main players', whom you consider your main players, innings' have ended. Shashank comes in such a situation and Jitesh (Sharma) was there with him," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"I would want to say one thing about Shashank. The way he is batting, how did you decide that he is your finisher only, that even though he is batting well, you won't send him up the order? What is the point? Someone who is batting well and has the temperament is not a finisher only. He plays red-ball cricket and is an experienced player," he added.

Stand-in skipper San Curran praised Shashank and Ashutosh for their performances but acknowledged the disappointment of losing such close matches. "Another close one, I think this team likes a close one, but unfortunately another loss. Another incredible knock from the young guy (on Ashutosh), but another close loss. It's very tough, you want to lose close games rather than getting absolutely thumped, but we've lost a lot of wickets at the start, the way the younger guys have taken the team so close is heartening (on Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma)," Curran said.

"They have incredible confidence, you see a guy like Ashutosh having the confidence to play the sweeps and the big hits against pacers, it's so great to watch them in action. It's disheartening to lose close games, but there are a lot of positives in this team. We still have the belief in us, we believe we can turn this around, the sun will come up tomorrow and we will hopefully get on a winning run," Curran added.

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