Suryansh Shedge (AP photo) MUMBAI: Apart from the runs and wickets to his name, what the young cricketer carries proudly in his bag is praise from a senior player in the dressing room – a modern-day legend he looks up to. Mumbai and Punjab Kings all-rounder Suryansh Shedge still remembers how elated he felt after Rohit Sharma praised him for his explosive batting during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as the former India captain joined Mumbai ahead of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy home season.Batting at No.6, Shedge made several quick cameos to star in Mumbai’s SMAT win in Hyderabad, smashing 15 balls, 36 not out in the final against Madhya Pradesh, 36 not out from just 12 balls against Baroda in the quarter-finals and 30 to bowl Andhra out in the last eight balls.
Watch
Why Suryakumar Yadav Will Lose India T20I Captaincy: Everything You Need To Know“One thing about Rohit bhai is that he is always positive. I remember when we (Mumbai) won the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and then he came to play for us in the Ranji Trophy match. He told me, “Are Shedge, kya batting keli re. Ki Sagle Baghat Hoto Tikde Ekatra!” Shedge in an online media interaction on Saturday from Dharamshala, where Punjab Kings play their next three home matches starting Monday. “I spoke to Rohit bhai a lot and I learned a lot. When you are in the presence of greats, you can learn a lot even in a five-minute conversation because you are automatically a good listener there. When someone who has been playing cricket for 15-20 years and winning tournaments for his country stands in front of you,” he said, 2-year cricket must be good. Bought by Punjab Kings for his base price of Rs 30 crore in the November 2024 auction, Shedge had a miserable time in IPL-2025, managing to score only seven runs @ 2.33 in five matches. The young Turk was on the bench for the first eight games this year before finally getting a chance. The Mumbaikar seized the opportunity and took 3 wickets in his first three matches, a brave 57 off 29 balls against Gujarat Titans and a brisk 25 off 17 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Shedge said that being more instinctive this IPL season rather than thinking too much before each ball has helped improve his batting this IPL season. “One change I made was instinctive and not premeditated, even in practice, and that helped me have better success,” Shedge said.He revealed a ‘heartwarming’ chat with PBKS head coach and former Australian great Ricky Ponting, during which the Mumbai all-rounder admitted his frustration at not getting the match. Ponting motivated him to stay ready to take his chance when it came. “Our conversations were always about how well I was hitting the nets and how I could get an opportunity at any time. I remember after the fourth or fifth match, after the net session, he took me aside and asked if I was frustrated. At first I said ‘No’. He said, ‘Be honest’.” So I told him ‘Yes’, I sometimes felt it at night. He said he understood (my situation) and told me that ‘four or five players from our franchise can enter the playing XI of any other franchise.’ He said that ‘it’s easy to get stuck and start thinking negatively, but it’s harder to stay in the present and focus on preparing so you’re switched on and ready when the opportunity comes.’ That interview helped me a lot and I was really honored to have that interview with him. It was heart to heart. That’s why I always say Ricky sir is one of the best coaches I’ve played under,” Shedge said.“With Ricky sir, it’s always been about preparation, preparation, preparation. He keeps reminding us that that’s what brought success in the first phase of this IPL and last year’s IPL. He also says that no matter what happens, you have to bounce back, be brave and know you belong. At the end of the day, when it’s all about facing the ball, that helps,” he added.There is a comfort factor that the young all-rounder enjoys with his PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer, who is also his captain in the Mumbai T20 side. “Shreyas Bhai and I talk a lot about cricket. Sometimes he asks me about his bat, sometimes I ask him about mine. Constructive criticism is essential and that can only provide a healthy team environment,” Shedge said.Sharing how his chat with Iyer during the team’s pre-season friendly had a positive impact on him, Shedge said: “I remember an internal practice game before the IPL started. I was batting well and I was on 65 or 70, I was not out while Shreyas Bhai was on the field side and Arshdeep (Singh). Then I batted two balls first. at the non-striker’s end, I was wondering if I had shifted before the start of the season. If I had started thinking about things out of my control, I would not have been able to perform in such a situation we talk about cricket – technique, attitude and what we can both do better. That’s how we maintain a positive environment.”In Mumbai, Shedge trains under former Indian player and selector Jatin Paranjape at the Vasu Paranjape Cricket Centre. “Suryansh is the next big thing in the making (in Mumbai and Indian cricket). I am proud of the boy,” Paranjape told TOI.“He shared the advice Paranjape gives him about his game, which is basically about ‘staying in the present,'” the Mumbaikar said, “his advice is simple: ‘Do what you can today. Think about today, not tomorrow or yesterday.’ If I start thinking in these terms, I’m not giving myself the best chance to grow. He asks me to stay present and make the most of the day. He told me: “Whenever you’re thinking, come to him and talk about things – it can be cricket or life. You just have to feel light when your head hits the pillow and be ready for the next day,” he said.When asked about Punjab Kings’ numerous fielding mistakes so far in IPL-2026, Shedge said, “It’s not just us who make mistakes. It can happen to any franchisee and it has happened in the past. So I don’t think we should pay attention to it. Because when we were winning games and taking all the chances, were we right that we were the same players? So we were the same.” temporary thing and we’ll get over it.”
