NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings (PBKS) found themselves entangled in a major blunder as they accidentally purchased the ‘wrong player’ in a surprising turn of events during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction on Tuesday.
The team mistakenly acquired uncapped Indian player Shashank Singh at a base price of Rs 20 lakh, only to realize their error after the auctioneer had completed the bid.
Here’s what transpired:
The confusion arose during the accelerated round of the auction when the auctioneer, Mallika Sagar, announced and called out the name of Shashank Singh, a 32-year-old batting all-rounder representing Chhattisgarh in domestic cricket.

Despite the mix-up, PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta raised the paddle after a brief discussion with her team members, securing Shashank’s purchase.
However, as the auction moved on to the next set of players, PBKS realized their mistake and informed the auctioneer that they had confused Shashank for another player.
Auctioneer denied reversal
In an attempt to rectify the error, PBKS owners Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta expressed their desire to re-enter Shashank into the auction.
However, IPL auction regulations stipulate that once the hammer confirms a purchase, the transaction is finalized and cannot be reversed.
Pressure of auction
The incident added a unique twist to the IPL auction, highlighting the challenges and pressure faced by teams in the fast-paced bidding environment.
The unintended purchase of the ‘wrong player’ became a noteworthy moment during the auction proceedings.

(With inputs from IANS)