Punjab Kings Star Ranks as 9th Most Googled Athlete in 2024, Credits IPL Franchise for Rise to Fame

Shashank expressed surprise upon learning that Google releases a list of the most searched people worldwide. He admitted that while he usually prefers to celebrate achievements privately, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride knowing that people from across India and around the globe were searching for his name and learning about his work.

He credited his time with Punjab for the same. “It has been possible because of the Punjab Kings. There are so many cricketers who are talented and playing at the top level but the Punjab Kings have always shown trust in me and have backed me. It's true that I worked hard as well.”

Shashank, who was retained by the franchise this season, will also be meeting his DY Patil T20 Cup teammates Shreyas Iyer and Suryansh Shedge at Punjab Kings and expressed his excitement about sharing the dressing room with them once again.

“I am excited to meet Shreyas because I have played cricket with him at the junior level. We played together in the DY Patil T20 Cup and we share a good bond. I am very excited to play under his captaincy this season. I am also excited to reunite with Suryansh, who is also from the same DY Patil team. He is a very bright prospect for both Punjab Kings and the country,” said Shashank.

Shashank also expressed gratitude to the franchise for the support and the trust vested in him by them. He further expressed the desire and enthusiasm to continue to perform well this season.

“I am extremely lucky that I was a part of this franchise last year and was retained. I personally feel great about the innings against Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively. It was a special feeling that the team finished on the winning side and I was the one who was standing there,” the 33-year-old said.

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“The support the management gave me last year is something that is very close to my heart. Now I could say that I am emotionally attached to the franchise. I'll make sure that I do all the right things that I did last year to retain this trust.”

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Punjab Kings will open their IPL 2025 campaign against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 25.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)