As IPL 2026 approaches, kicking off on March 28, the anticipation builds with only the first 20 matches scheduled due to ongoing state elections. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has expressed admiration for Shashank Singh of Punjab Kings (PBKS), highlighting his significant contributions last season. Pathan stated, “Shashank’s recent batting form and his performance last year were vital for Punjab’s success. While we often focus on players scoring 500-600 runs like Prabhsimran, Shreyas Iyer, or Priyansh Arya, Shashank’s achievements are equally commendable. His ability to step up in various situations showcases his confidence. If he continues this trajectory, we could see him making a mark in bigger cricket.” Shashank scored around 350 runs in crucial moments, proving essential to the team’s strategy. The PBKS will kick off their IPL 2026 journey against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 31 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
**IPL 2026 Squad Overview:**
**Punjab Kings:** Marcus Stoinis, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shashank Singh, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Shreyas Iyer, Ben Dwarshuis, Vishnu Vinod (WK), Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Harpreet Brar, Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Cooper Conolly, Mitchell Owen, Pyla Avinash, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Vishal Nishad.
**Gujarat Titans:** Ishant Sharma, Jos Buttler (WK), Jason Holder, Jayant Yadav, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Tewatia, Luke Wood, Shahrukh Khan, Glenn Phillips, Prasidh Krishna, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore, Shubman Gill (C), Tom Banton (WK), Yarra Raj, Anuj Rawat, Sai Sudharsan, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Arshad Khan, Nishant Sandhu, Gurnoor Brar, Ashok Sharma.