Suryansh Shedge's 29-ball 57 featuring five sixes helped Punjab Kings stay in an IPL 2026 game before a late wicket.
At just 23, Suryansh Shedge arrived with a strong reputation after his match-winning performance for Mumbai in the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Punjab Kings (PBKS) picked him up but the young batter had to wait for his chance to shine. He finally got his first IPL 2026 appearance against Rajasthan Royals on April 28, facing only two deliveries. Shedge described his approach not as waiting but as preparing, and his innings against Gujarat Titans on Sunday proved his readiness.
Ambati Rayudu highlighted Shedge's confidence when playing aggressive shots as the most impressive trait. He recalled how Shedge delivered a match-winning knock in the Mushtaq Ali final, which paved the way for his IPL selection. Shedge's ability to hit boundaries, especially sixes, stood out during his 29-ball 57 against Gujarat Titans. Rayudu emphasized that for an Indian batter entering the IPL, such power is a major advantage.
Shedge walked out to bat at number six with PBKS at 36 for 4 in the seventh over against Gujarat Titans. The score soon became 47 for 5 after Shreyas Iyer's dismissal, but Shedge teamed up with Marcius Stoinis for a 79-run partnership off 44 balls. Shedge outshone Stoinis in the stand, finishing with three fours and five sixes. Three of those sixes and two fours came in a single Manav Suthar over, where the left-arm bowler struggled with loose deliveries.
Rayudu noted that Shedge looked capable of clearing the boundary easily, which is a huge asset for an Indian player in the IPL. He suggested that a batter with such power has already won half the battle, needing only to develop game awareness further. However, Shedge's innings ended prematurely when he nicked the last ball of Kagiso Rabada's spell in the 16th over, giving the wicketkeeper a catch. PBKS finished with 163 for 9, a below-par total that still took the chase to 19.5 overs.
After getting out to the last ball of Rabada's spell, Shedge admitted he could have let it go in hindsight. He believed letting that ball pass might have added 20-25 more runs, making the target more manageable. Despite the setback, Shedge called 163 a fighting total and stressed that the team gave their all. He accepted responsibility, saying he should have stayed at the crease since he was set and could have changed the game's outcome.
Shedge did not start the season in PBKS' playing XI, and both matches he has played so far have ended in losses for the team. However, he believes the waiting period helped him mentally and physically. He mentioned learning from captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting, who advised him to be ready whenever the opportunity arises. Shedge enjoys challenging situations and has often come to the rescue for his teams in domestic cricket, including Under-23 and other tournaments. His preparation involves putting himself in different scenarios to be ready for any situation.