'Second season will test them mentally' - Shashank on Sooryavanshi, Arya

 

Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh feels that young sensations Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya will be under added pressure to repeat their heroics from the last IPL season.

Speaking on the JioStar press room ahead of the IPL 2026 opener, Shashank said that the team will aim to exploit a few technical drawbacks they identified in Sooryavanshi's batting.

"Teams will definitely be well prepared, and there will be pressure to perform this year," Shashank said about the two youngsters. "Expectations will be high, which is usual in India. Sooryavanshi is a star in the making, but there are certain technical areas we will try to exploit to get him out".

Sooryavanshi, who turned 15 this week, has been crushing long-standing batting records, having achieved widespread appeal in his maiden IPL season. He hit 252 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 206.55, also becoming the youngest-ever T20 centurion. Since then, Sooryavanshi has hardly slowed down: a 36-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and a 175 in the final of the U19 World Cup are striking additions to his jaw-dropping CV.

Shashank feels that the challenges will shift to be much more on the mental front for Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya this time.

"The same goes for Priyansh and for other teams. Hence, the second season is even more important. The mental side is about handling expectations as expectations will be more from them now. We have seen it many times: someone has a great season, and then the next year, they don't get the same opportunities. I can't say much about Sooryavanshi because I don't know him personally very well, but from what I've seen, he is very calm. With Priyansh, he knows exactly what he wants from his cricketing life. I think he will do really well this year as well."

Shashank and Priyansh are key cogs in the Punjab Kings lineup while being at different junctures of their career: the 24-year-old Priyansh hit 475 runs at a strike rate of 179.24; Shashank, ten years older, has been their designated finisher, striking at 153.50. Among all teams in IPL 2025, Punjab Kings' Indian contingent scored the most runs.

The team is also building a steady lineup of youngsters alongside Priyansh, with Nehal Wadhera, Suryansh Shedge and Harnoor Brar all expected to play roles at some point in the tournament. Shashank feels that the younger set tends to overthink a lot less, allowing them to express themselves much better.

"The best thing about the youngsters is that they are completely fearless," Shashank said. "Players from Punjab, like Nehal Wadhera, Suryansh Shedge, and Harnoor Singh, all of them don't think too much. I've realised that we tend to overthink at times, even I do, but these guys don't. The less they think, the better they perform. When they're batting, even if they play four dots or get beaten, they don't dwell on it.

"They just focus on the next ball. In the IPL, it's more about confidence, and that's their biggest strength. Guys like Priyansh or Suryansh have a different level of talent, I watch them bat every day. The only thing they need is a bit of maturity. I consider myself a mature cricketer now, and with them, I feel the sooner they learn to adapt quickly to situations, the better it will be for them."

Punjab Kings reached the final of the 2025 IPL, their first playoffs spot in over a decade, with plenty of praise directed at captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting. Shashank feels a lot of it has to do with how involved the duo is even during off-season.

"The way they back us during practice sessions and keep a tab on us throughout the year is very important," Shashank said. "We play a lot of cricket round the year. So, when you play regularly, maturity becomes less of an issue. The brand of cricket we play and why we are so fearless is because of the environment. They have given us complete freedom, and that's something I've always felt.

"I remember the first qualifier against RCB, even when we lost, and were able to score just over 100, we never spoke negatively about anything. Even after a game like that, where we lost badly, the talk was always about taking positives into the next game. Even now, in the current camp, the conversations are only positive. When someone gives you that much freedom and trust, I think the results will come sooner or later."

Shashank further explained how Ponting's rapport with Iyer keeps the system functioning well, and his positivity rubs off on the team.

"The way Ricky Ponting handles everyone, from players to the support staff, creates a strong team environment, which is crucial in a tournament like the IPL. Not everyone plays every game, so how you treat the rest of the squad really matters. He makes sure everyone feels valued. From the very first meeting, he made it clear that no one would be judged on performance alone; everyone is equal, whether it's Shreyas Iyer or a new player like Vishal Nishad, a spinner from UP.

"His attitude does not change from person to person. His cricketing knowledge is very sharp. I have worked with Brian Lara as well, and he is right up there. He keeps things simple, even in meetings, which really helps when you are not doing well and tend to overthink. He is also very positive as a person, and you learn a lot from him beyond cricket. The understanding and respect he shares with Shreyas is excellent, and since they think alike, it makes working under him really enjoyable. It is very important for the captain and the coach to be on the same page."