IPL 2026: Why is Shashank Singh not playing against Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh?

Shashank Singh was not picked for the Punjab Kings' clash against the Rajasthan Royals at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. The two sides are facing off in Match 40 of the season in what is a key contest between two top-four teams.

At the toss, Riyan Parag won the coin flip and opted to field first for Rajasthan Royals.

Shreyas Iyer on Shashank’s Absence

Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer confirmed that Shashank Singh’s absence was a forced change, without revealing the exact reason he said that,

“We would have loved to bowl first as well. The wicket was covered for the last few days because of the weather. All of us are proactive, irrespective of whether we are bowling first or second. We have one forced change, Suryansh comes in place of Shashank. Also, Lockie comes in place of Xavier.”

Team Updates: PBKS vs RR

**Rajasthan Royals Changes:**Out: Shimron Hetmyer, Ravi Bishnoi
In: Dasun Shanaka, Yash Raj Punia

**Punjab Kings Changes:**Out: Shashank Singh (injury), Xavier Bartlett
In: Suryansh Shedge, Lockie Ferguson

Playing XIs for Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer(c), Cooper Connolly, Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja

Impact subs for Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals Impact subs: Ravi Bishnoi, Ravi Singh, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Shimron Hetmyer

Punjab Kings Impact Subs: Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar, Musheer Khan