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Inside Shobit Singh’s sizzling start to the 2024-25 Victorian Premier Cricket season

Dandenong star Shobit Singh has made an explosive start to the Premier Cricket season but his expectations and ambitions have him hungry for even bigger scores.

Shobit Singh. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)
Shobit Singh. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Shobit Singh has rattled off 160 and 167 in his past two innings.

But if you ask him, he has “missed out” on both occasions.

Singh is one of Premier Cricket’s in-form batters, shifting from a gritty opener to a dazzling dasher.

The ambitious 22-year-old hasn’t been dismissed under 160 in red-ball cricket this season and has had a strike rate of 123, 88 and 101 in each of those three innings.

Singh is in a purple patch but he’s far from satisfied.

“I’m still not satisfied because I have missed out on double hundreds both times,” he said.

“Yeah I was shattered (against Northcote), this week again I could have gone 200 plus, I am still happy with what I have made but not satisfied.”

Shobit Singh laces a ball to the fence. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)
Shobit Singh laces a ball to the fence. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Singh has plundered 11 sixes this season, just three shy of the 14 he hit across his 55-matches at former club Richmond.

He joined the Panthers with the hopes of becoming a more expansive player after identifying how flare can open doors for more higher-level opportunity.

“I spoke to Brett (Forsyth) and Tommy (Donnell) before coming to Dandy about giving myself a good opportunity to go at a good clip,” he said.

“To get to that next level I have to be scoring either big hundreds or scoring at a good strike rate – so far I feel like I have ticked both boxes.

“Seeing so many different opportunities that come in white-ball cricket and T20s, I feel like the game is changing so I have to adapt to that.

“I have been working on it, no one has told me to bat this way or bat that way, it’s just what I think I need to do to get to that next level.

“I know I have the capability to do it, it’s just going out and executing.”

Singh presses forward. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)
Singh presses forward. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Dandenong coach Tom Donnell says Singh’s rise is “pretty incredible”

“He (Singh) said he wanted to expand his game a bit more and go at a run a ball in all nearly all forms and we were really happy to help him achieve that,” Donnell said.

“I think it’s a confidence thing, he’s trained that way all the way through the pre-season and continues to be positive with his training.

“I think there’s a mindset of not being afraid to go out at times and being positive, looking to attack the bowlers.”

Singh was caught on the fence on Saturday as he looked to speed up the game even more.

It was a rare mistake from Singh, who Donnell says is playing every shot in the book.

“Geez, he’s playing them all,” Donnell said when asked what Singh’s go-to stroke is.

Singh batting at former club Richmond. Picture: Valeriu Campan
Singh batting at former club Richmond. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“It’s hard to tell at the moment but anything short he’s jumping on, he’s been so quick on that.

“When they’ve had two back, he’s hit it hard along the ground, and when he’s tried to hit it in the air for six then he’s been able to do that.

“If he keeps this form up, who knows where he’ll end up.”

Singh has been selected to play for a Victorian Colts side next week.

He will take on NSW alongside Dandenong teammates Noah Hurley, Vishwa Ramkumar and Dhanusha Gamage.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/sport/inside-shobit-singhs-sizzling-start-to-the-202425-victorian-premier-cricket-season/news-story/94af725d0395472d22bbe8cffdf38fbf