The internet can be a cruel space. Shashank Singh learnt it the hard way last December when, nearly a year after going off social media, he became the butt of all jokes on being "accidentally" bought, openly rejected and finally accepted at the 2024 IPL auctions. The confusion which arose momentarily at the Punjab Kings auction table was down to the fact that there was another player by the same name in the mix. The franchise officially clarified a day later that their rejection at the auction table notwithstanding, the Chattisgarh finisher was indeed the Shashank Singh they had on their radar. But that was all the whiff the trolls needed and, by then, he had already been labeled a 'mistake purchase'. There was never any confusion in Shashank's mind though. Chattisgarh coach Hitesh Goswami, who is also a talent scout for Punjab Kings, had spoken highly of his ward to the franchise that was looking to strengthen its Indian middle-order core. At the same time he had advised Shashank, who was on the lookout for an IPL team he could call home. He had previously been attached to Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals between 2017-20, and debuted for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2022 before being deemed surplus to their requirements on the day of the retention deadline. Disheartened after the auction that followed, partly because of the injury that robbed him of a chance to push his case, Shashank went off the social grid with the focus solely on earning his spot back in the IPL. He found the backing at PBKS to be given a chance in their tournament opener itself, but perished first ball attempting a needless pull when only a run-a-ball 8 was needed, thereby giving the trolls more fodder. There's been quite a turnaround in his fortunes though and after every successful run-chase since, Shashank has had a very striking celebration. It doesn't come after a fifty or a milestone, it's always reserved for when the job is done as if he's making a statement. Or, correcting one. Be it the improbable 200 chase in Ahmedabad, the record-shattering one of 262 at the Eden Gardens or the one where PBKS conquered fortress Chepauk earlier this week. On a redemption arc of his own, the 'mistaken finisher' jets off with a loud roar that's accompanied by a bat-raise pointed at the dugout. "I didn't want to prove the trolls wrong, I wanted to prove my backers right," Shashank told Cricbuzz. "The fact that I was standing there celebrating, having taken my team across the finish line, meant I had proved everyone right who gave me the opportunity. This was for the whole team. This team had backed me from day one - there are many others here who equally deserved a spot in that starting XI, but Punjab made sure I played. So [by] winning them the games I didn't prove anyone wrong, I just proved them right. That celebration was a little thank you to all of them for having my back." A journeyman in the IPL, the 32-year-old got 10 games at SRH out of which his batting was never required in five. Of the remaining five innings, his moment in the sun came when he struck a hat-trick of sixes against Lockie Ferguson in an unbeaten cameo of 25. But just as quickly as he rose to fame, he faded out. Thin on Indian batting resources, PBKS placed their faith in the relatively unknown 32-year-old who has since emerged as the team's leading run-getter in IPL 2024 with a tally of 288 in 10 outings thus far, at an average of 72 and strike-rate almost 170, in a season where some of their biggest batting attractions have failed to live up to their billing. Even so, that sense of gratitude isn't a mere platitude. There's 25 here, and 24 of them walked up to me at different times after the first match and said, 'Buck up buddy, next time you'll smash that same delivery for a six'. Shikhar bhai, Jonny [Bairstow], Sam [Curran], literally everyone, even the coaches and the management. That's all the support you need. I know I have the capability of pulling the ball for a six, but those conversations dispelled any doubts that would have crept in - even if for a moment I thought that, 'Oh I've been out first-ball in the debut game, next time I'll start safe and just look to get off the mark with a single first.' They walked up to me to ensure I knew that everyone is backing me and believes in my capabilities. Those are the things that matter a lot at this level." This unflinching faith wasn't only a result of his domestic coach putting in a good word. Just prior to this IPL, "the best thing that could have happened" to Shashank was having Dhawan, his IPL captain-to-be, playing under his leadership in the DY Patil T20 Cup and getting the chance to understand their newest recruit's mindset better. "They made sure Shikhar bhai and DK bhai [Dinesh Karthik] were in my team. That was a blessing because I got to know so many things about Shikhar bhai, and Shikhar @I1$ got to understand so many things about my game. What position do I bat, where I like to play [my shots], where I field best. So, great credit goes to Abey Kuruvilla sir and Pravin Tambe sir for ensuring that Shikhar @I1$ and I played in the same team."