New Delhi: Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh is set to leave Chhattisgarh ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season after securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS). The uncapped batter is expected to represent Puducherry, citing a lack of "clarity" and alleged disrespect from state cricket officials as the reasons behind his decision.

According to Cricinfo, the 34-year-old, who has represented Chhattisgarh since 2019, claimed that repeated attempts to seek answers from the state association over his exclusion from the 2026 Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League (CCPL) and a conditioning camp for state probables went unanswered.

A senior CSCS official confirmed that the NOC had been issued but declined to comment further on Shashank's allegations.

"The player had requested the NOC, which has been issued. Whatever else he has said are his views, and the association does not want to make any further comment on the matter."
Shashank, who endured a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign with Punjab Kings, managing 132 runs in nine innings with one half-century, said the communication gap with the association had been building for some time.

"This has been brewing for a while. I tried to engage in dialogue with the state association officials soon after the IPL season, but I didn't receive any response. They did not have a proper explanation for why I was excluded from the [2026] Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League. They did not tell me why I wasn't considered for the conditioning camp for the state probables."
He added that his achievements in domestic cricket deserved better treatment from the association.

"I am not saying you give me preferential treatment, but someone who won the BCCI award for the best domestic white-ball allrounder [for 2023-24] at least deserves some clarity, not ridicule."
The batter also recalled that tensions began during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season when he sustained a shoulder injury while fielding against Mumbai. Despite batting later in the match, he claimed the association questioned his commitment.

"Scans revealed a Grade 2 shoulder strain, which our physio was privy to, but the association officials felt I simply was not interested. I batted despite the injury in that match, but obviously they did not see it the same way."

Shashank further alleged that similar doubts were raised during the white-ball season after he fractured his thumb while training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru ahead of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

"Just before the Vijay Hazare Trophy, I was at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for some conditioning and batting prep - an initiative I had taken on my own since I am not a contracted player. During that stint, in one of the sessions, I got hit on the thumb by Prasidh Krishna and sustained a fracture."

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"At the time, doctors even felt I'd be touch-and-go for the IPL. But it was not enough to convince Chhattisgarh officials that it was serious enough."
After battling multiple injuries over the past year, Shashank said he intends to focus exclusively on white-ball cricket, adding that Puducherry had accepted his request before finalising the move.

"In red-ball cricket, I tried my best to play as an all-rounder, but my body did not allow it, and I am tired of trying to convince people of this. That is the reason why I only want to focus on white-ball, and Puducherry fortunately agreed to this request of mine before we got down to the paperwork."
Shashank featured in 24 first-class matches for Chhattisgarh, scoring 1,226 runs at an average of 29.19, including one century and six fifties. In List A cricket, he amassed 927 runs in 31 matches at an average of 40.30 with two centuries and three fifties, while also scoring 653 runs and taking 18 wickets in 42 T20 appearances for the state.

The all-rounder enjoyed a breakthrough IPL 2024 season with Punjab Kings, scoring 354 runs at a strike rate of 164.65, which earned him retention ahead of the mega auction. However, IPL 2026 proved challenging, with poor form, dropped catches and injury concerns affecting his performances.

Looking ahead to the next chapter of his career, Shashank expressed optimism about his move.

"Puducherry is a fresh start. I am hoping to rediscover my white-ball proficiency after having fully recovered from my injuries." (ANI)