Shashank Singh, 34, who has been appointed as a guest player for Pondicherry for the upcoming 2026-27 domestic season from Chhattisgarh, has joined the team as the other key professional player, and Mumbai wicketkeeper-batter Prasad Pawar is the other key professional addition. Shashank’s move comes after he was frustrated with the state association regarding the lack of institutional backing as he continues to battle back from physical injuries and to get ready to take on the new professional side.
Shashank expressed deep anger at how the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh handled his fitness problems last season. He also disclosed that he suffered a severe shoulder injury and a broken finger in the previous domestic cycle but received very little help from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh to rehab. Being dropped from the local Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League on the day of the pre-season training camp and the team sent to Bengaluru has not yet been explained to him, Shashank said, and he has tried to contact the management for help, but still nothing is happening.
Shashank, who has been frustrated with team officials in the past, denied that all he cared about was the Indian Premier League but also domestic cricket, as he made sure to mention his contribution to domestic cricket and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, where he got the Lala Amarnath Award as best all-rounder in the white-ball circuit for 2023-24. Looking forward to his new side, Shashank said he will have to temper his workload by not playing red-ball for a while and concentrate on white-ball cricket, as that's when he will be able to perform best as an all-rounder for Pondicherry.
