In an unexpected twist at the 2024 IPL Auction, Punjab Kings found themselves entangled in a mix-up that led to the inadvertent acquisition of Shashank Singh. The confusion arose during the accelerated bidding phase when Shashank’s name was called, prompting auctioneer Mallika Sagar to initiate the bidding process. Hailing from Chattisgarh and having been with Sunrisers Hyderabad previously, the uncapped 32-year-old had gone unsold in the previous auction.
Punjab Kings, the sole bidders for Shashank, unintentionally secured his services in Dubai. However, shortly after the hammer confirmed the purchase, team owners Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta realized the error, acknowledging that they had mistaken Shashank for another player. Despite their efforts to rectify the mistake, Mallika Sagar adhered to auction regulations, asserting that once the hammer falls, the decision becomes final.
Despite Wadia and Zinta attempting to place Shashank back into the auction, auction regulations prevented such reversals after the gavel confirmed a purchase. Shashank, with a T20 record of 55 matches, accumulating 724 runs at a strike rate of 135.83 and claiming 15 wickets, now finds himself an unintended addition to the Punjab Kings squad. Meanwhile, the team’s highest-priced acquisition was Harshal Patel, secured for INR 11.75 crore.
Punjab Kings publically accepted their mistake after bidding for the wrong Shashank Singh
This unusual incident left Punjab Kings in a challenging situation, unable to retract their accidental acquisition, highlighting the stringent rules governing IPL auctions even in the face of mistaken identities. During a segment on Jio Cinema, anchor Suhail Chandok expressed disapproval, stating that the franchise seemed uncertain in its approach regarding the incident. “We don’t see that in the auction if you are clear with your plans,” he remarked.
Mike Hesson, an expert on the show, shared insights into Punjab’s conduct during the auction, expressing uncertainty about what the franchise had achieved. He remarked, “Not sure what Punjab achieved from this IPL auction. They have a lot of backups but not a lot of substance.”
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