Suryansh Shedge (AP Photo)
MUMBAI: Besides the runs and wickets to his name, what the young cricketer proudly carries in his bag is praise from a senior player in the dressing room – a modern-day legend they look up to.
Mumbai and Punjab Kings’ all-rounder Suryansh Shedge still remembers how elated he felt after Rohit Sharma complimented him on his explosive batting during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, when the former India skipper joined Mumbai ahead of a Ranji Trophy match in the 2024-25 domestic season.Batting at number six, Shedge produced a few quick cameos to shine in Mumbai’s SMAT win in Hyderabad, smashing 15 not out (36) not out in the final against Madhya Pradesh, 36 not out off just 12 balls against Baroda in the quarter-final, and 30 off just eight balls against Andhra in the final league match.
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“One thing about Rohit bhai is that he is always positive. I remember when we (Mumbai) won the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 T20 and he came to play for us next in the Ranji Trophy match. He said to me, ‘Do Shidge, Kia bats Kelly Re.’ Ki sagal bhajit hotu thekdi ikatra (What a wonderful bat you did, we were all watching!),” the online media reacted on Saturday from Dharamshala, where Punjab Kings play their next three matches at home, starting on Monday.
“I have spoken to Rohit bhai a lot, and I have learned a lot. When you are in the presence of greats, you can learn a lot of things even in a five-minute conversation, because you are automatically a good listener there. When someone who has played cricket for 15 to 20 years and won trophies for his country stands in front of you and talks about cricket, you know that you have to be a good listener,” the 23-year-old said.
Shedge, who was bought by Punjab Kings for his base price of Rs 30 lakh in the auction in November 2024, had a tough time in IPL-2025, managing to score just seven runs in five matches at 2.33. This year, the young Turk was on the bench for the first eight matches, before finally getting his chance. Capitalizing on the opportunity, the Mumbaikar scored 3 not out, a brave 57 off 29 balls against Gujarat Titans and a quick 25 off 17 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in his first three matches.
Becoming more instinctive at the crease instead of thinking too much before each ball will help improve his batting this IPL season, said Sheedge. “One shift I made was to be more instinctive and unreflective, even in practice, and that has helped me have better success,” Sheedge said.He revealed a ‘heart-to-heart’ conversation with PBKS coach and former Australian great Ricky Ponting, during which the Mumbai pacer admitted his frustration at not getting a game.
Ponting motivated him to remain ready to seize his opportunity when it arrived. “Our conversations were always about how good my batting was at the nets and how I could get a chance at any time. I remember after the fourth or fifth match, after a net session, he took me aside and asked me if I was down. At first, I said ‘no’. He said: ‘Be honest’.” “Yes,” I told him, “at night I sometimes feel that way.” He said he understood (my situation) and told me that “four or five players from our team could start any other team.”
“It’s easy to get stuck and start thinking negatively,” he said, “but it’s harder to stay in the present and stay focused on being prepared so that when the opportunity comes, you’re ready and ready.” This conversation helped me so much, and I was truly honored to have that conversation with him. It was a heart to heart. “That’s why I always say Ricky Sidi is one of the best coaches I’ve ever played under,” Shedge said.“With Mr. Ricky, it was always about preparation, preparation, preparation.
He always reminds us that this is what brought success in the first phase of the IPL and in last year’s IPL. He also says that no matter what happens, you have to back yourself, be brave and know that you belong. Ultimately, when it comes to facing the ball, it helps.”There is a comfort factor that the young player enjoys with PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer, who is also the captain of the Mumbai T20 team. “Shreyas bhai and I talk a lot about cricket.
Sometimes he asks me about his hit, and sometimes I ask him about mine. “Constructive criticism is essential, and only a healthy team environment can provide that,” Scheidge said.Speaking about the impact of chatting with Iyer during the pre-season intra-squad warm-up match, Shedge said, “I remember an intra-squad practice match before the Indian Premier League started. I was batting well and was on 65 or 70 not out, while Shreyas bhai was on the fielding side and Arshdeep (Singh) bhai was bowling.
I hit two boundaries off the first two balls. Then throw in all the New Yorkers. I tried to play scoop and ended up at the non-striker’s end, wondering what went wrong.
Shreyas bhai was in the covers, and I asked him if I had moved early. “You’re hitting well, don’t overthink it,” he told me. This really stayed with me before the season started. This is how you are ready when you actually go out to bat in the middle. If I started thinking about things that were out of my control, or if I allowed negative thoughts to get into my head, I wouldn’t be able to perform in that situation.
He always keeps me on my toes, and we talk a lot about cricket – technique, attitude and what each of us can do better. This is how we keep the environment positive.”In Mumbai, Shidge is training under former India all-rounder 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 this kid,” Paranjape told TOI.Sharing the advice Paranjape gave him about his game, which is basically about ‘staying in the present’, the Mumbaikar said, “His advice is simple: ‘Do your best today.’
Think about today, not tomorrow or yesterday. If I start thinking in those terms, I won’t give myself the best chance to grow. It asks me to stay in the present and make the most of the day. “When you think too much, come to him and talk to him about things – it could be about cricket or life,” he told me.
All you have to do is feel light when your head hits the pillow and you’re ready for the next day.”Asked about the multiple blunders committed by Punjab Kings in IPL-2026 so far, Shidge said: “We are not the only ones making blunders. It can happen to any franchise and it has happened in the past. So I don’t think we should pay attention to it. Because when we were winning matches and we were taking all the chances, we were the same players, right? We were the same team. That tells you it’s a temporary thing and we will come out of it.”
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