Shashank Singh played a blistering knock of 68 not out off 28 balls to help PBKS make the highest successful run-chase in T20 history at the Eden Gardens on April 26. He received widespread adulation following his innings, including from former West Indies legend Brian Lara.

Lara was associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad a couple of seasons back when Shashank played for them. He took to Instagram to wish Shashank well after the game. “I am enjoying this great run,” he said.

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However, what followed was a cryptic message which has led to a lot of speculation.

“Be who you are. You are not everyone’s cup of tea and that is OK,” Lara wrote. “I am happy you didn’t waste your time convincing people that aren’t ‘your people’ – or people that just don’t get you – that you have value, because no matter how hard you try, they are going to miss it completely. And you have to be OK with that.”

Shashank responded to Lara’s Instagram story by expressing his gratitude. “Just thank you enough sir for all the support. Without you this surely wouldn’t have been possible,” he wrote, following it up with a hashtag of “forevermentor”.

Ye SRH mein inka bhi kuchh lafda hua tha kya kisi se? pic.twitter.com/n5mjuMP2mK

— Jitesh Sharma's vakeel (Dhawan Ka parivar) (@neelakhoon) April 27, 2024

SRH had a tough few seasons before their current one, where they weren’t getting results on the field and were embroiled in off-field controversies including but not limited to the unceremonious ousting of David Warner as their captain.

While there’s no confirmation on who the “people” Lara mentions in his message are, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that it might have to do with the leadership group making decisions during Shashank and Lara’s time there (2022).

Currently, Shashank is having a breakthrough IPL season, having already scored 263 runs at a strike rate of 182 with two match-winning fifties in crunch run-chases.