India, March 19 -- Diwali knocked on Shashank Singh's door a few days before its scheduled arrival last year. Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon and general manager Ashish Tuli came as messengers of good fortune when preparations for the festival of lights were in full swing. Shashank was informed that he was one of the two cricketers - Prabhsimran Singh was the other one - PBKS were retaining for the next cycle of IPL. A WhatsApp text from newly-appointed head coach Ricky Ponting followed. Shashank's life, already on a fast track since his exploits in IPL 2024, took another dramatic turn for the good.

"It was a big deal for me," Shashank told Hindustan Times with a boy-like smile. "One call came in the evening. I don't remember the exact day...