'If he appreciates me for my performance, he can abuse me for my stupidity’ - Shashank Singh reflects on Shreyas Iyer’s IPL 2025 outburst [Exclusive]

Published - 16 Sept 2025, 19:36 IST | Updated - 16 Sept 2025, 19:47 IST

Punjab Kings (PBKS) vice-captain Shashank Singh reflected on a tense moment with team captain Shreyas Iyer during Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI). He tstated that Iyer showed frustration after his run-out and admitted that the skipper’s anger was fair and justified in that situation.

Shashank recalled that the incident took place when he was walking towards the crease, unaware of the situation, and MI captain Hardik Pandya knocked off the bails. Despite the setback, PBKS managed to qualify for the final thanks to Iyer’s heroics. He explained that while there was heat and anger during the game, the atmosphere changed once the match ended.

After Qualifier 2, Shreyas Iyer was angry with you. What exactly did he say to you at that moment?

See, what Shreyas said, I think everyone lip-reads these days. So, he was angry, there is no question about it,. I used to talk to him very nicely, and he was angry, and why was he angry? Because he is such a person who is very passionate about the sport. When he goes to the field, his passion is seen. It was my stupidity - the way I was walking and got run out, obviously it was a bad situation. That thing was not acceptable, and he scolded me there, that 'what are you doing?'.

The way he said it, it was right, it was justified... [it] was for that moment, we came to the dressing room and it was chill - we were eating together, having fun. Shreyas is such a person, that when he says something in anger - which I deserve, I was wrong, I deserved that abuse - (it stays in the moment). But when you do good, he appreciates it too, which is his good quality. If he appreciates me so much at my best time, then when I do stupidity, he can abuse me too, that is acceptable. So, I felt that he did not do anything wrong, and whatever he said, I can't say what exactly the wordings were, but whatever he said, I deserved it.