Hyderabad all-rounder Shashank Singh hogged the limelight in the ongoing Indian T20 League after he played an impressive cameo against Gujarat at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Batting at number seven, Shashank Singh smashed a six-ball 25 to power Hyderabad to a 195/6 in their allotted 20 overs.

The highlight of Shashank’s innings was the three sixes that he clobbered off Gujarat fast bowler Lockie Ferguson in the final over of Hyderabad’s innings.

Breaking Indian T20 League record on first opportunity

During his impressive knock, the right-handed batter also broke the record for the highest strike rate by an Indian in an Indian T20 League innings (minimum 25 runs). 

The 30-year-old Shashank surpassed Balachandra Akhil and Virat Kohli as he scored at a strike rate of 416.67. While Bangalore’s Balachandra Akhil had scored a seven-ball 27 at a strike rate of 385.71 against the now-defunct Deccan franchise in 2008, Kohli smashed a seven-ball 25 against Rajasthan at a strike rate of 357.14 in 2019.

Overall, in the Indian T20 League, South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris holds the record while playing for Delhi against the now-defunct Pune franchise. Morris hammered 38 off just nine balls, striking at 422.22.

Interestingly, Mumbai-born Shashank made his Indian T20 League debut against the defending champions Chennai in the 2022 edition at the DY Patil Stadium on April 9.

However, Shashank didn’t get to bat in his previous five outings as the Hyderabad top-order has been in scintillating form.

Who is Shashank Singh?

A product of the league cricket system in Mumbai, Shashank Singh is known for his clean striking and can also contribute with his off-spin.  

Currently playing for the Chhattisgarh cricket team, Shashank had made his T20 debut for Mumbai against Odisha at Cuttack in April, 2015. He followed it up with his List A debut for Mumbai against Punjab in the 2015-16 Vijay Hazare Trophy in December that year. 

The right-handed batter has amassed 449 runs in 38 T20 matches at a strike rate of 147.67 and an average of 21.38. He has registered three fifties in the shortest format so far. Meanwhile, Shashank has scored 436 runs in nine first-class matches and 536 runs in 23 List-A matches. He has smashed only one hundred in his short career.

Shashank Singh’s Indian T20 League journey

In February 2022, Hyderabad acquired the services of Shashank Singh at the base price of INR 20 lakh.

The all-rounder had bagged his maiden Indian T20 League contract in 2017 after Delhi bought him for INR 10 lakh in the player auction. In December 2018, Rajasthan also added Shashank to their squad.

Considering his all-round capabilities, Shashank Singh could play a crucial role for Hyderabad in the upcoming fixtures of the tournament. 

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Featured photo: Sunrisers Hyderabad