Virat Kohli's tears were tears of victory, the fruit of 18 years of dedication, a moment that shone brightly in the eyes of every cricket fan. However, another player, Shashank Singh, was broken by the sting of defeat that night, yet he won hearts.
Sports News: The IPL 2025 final will be remembered forever. Virat Kohli's tears, RCB's historic victory, and the culmination of 18 years of hard work. But another story was written that night, quietly, without fanfare. A story of passion, struggle, and above all, a determination that whispers, "The match is alive until the last ball." The hero of this story is none other than Punjab Kings' batsman, Shashank Singh.
While the world was captivated by Virat Kohli's triumph, Shashank Singh crafted something with his bat that, had Punjab won, would have made him the headline story.
Shashank Singh: A Warrior Who Didn't Fall Alone
In the IPL 2025 final, RCB, winning the toss, batted first and set a challenging target of 190 runs. Virat Kohli (64) and Glenn Maxwell (47) played fiery innings, transforming the final into a high-stakes encounter. Punjab Kings started aggressively in response, but the fall of Jos Buttler and Shreyas Iyer's wickets saw the team stumble. Wickets tumbled, and it seemed the match was slipping entirely in RCB's favor.
A Slow Start, But a Steely Resolve
Shashank played singles and doubles in his first six balls, settling himself. His shot on the seventh ball signaled, "I'm here not just to play, but to win." From then on, he disrupted the rhythm of RCB's most reliable bowlers. He hit two towering sixes off Hazlewood in the 17th over. Then, in the 19th over, he smashed a four and a six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, further increasing the run rate.
Did the 20th Over Make or Break the Match?
Josh Hazlewood bowled the final over. The first two balls were dots. The crowd's heartbeats quickened. Shashank hit a six off the third ball. Then a four off the fourth, followed by back-to-back sixes in the last two balls. Only six runs were needed. Shashank scored 22 runs in that over, bringing Punjab to the brink of victory. But alas… with just one more ball, the color of the IPL trophy might have been red and gold, not red and pink.
61 Runs in 30 Balls – A Lone Battle
Shashank scored an unbeaten 61 runs in 30 balls, including 3 fours and 6 sixes. This innings wasn't just a score; it was a saga of struggle, continuing even in the face of defeat. He was alone, yet unbowed. There were no tears in his eyes, but the inner pain was palpable. Thousands filled the stadium, yet he fought alone, like a commander holding the last stand.
After the match, the media, social media, and the cricket world were consumed by Virat Kohli's story. But Shashank Singh's battle was no less epic. He not only kept Punjab's hopes alive but also reminded cricket that a match isn't just about winning or losing—sometimes, the spirit is the greatest victory.
