Punjab Kings' Suryansh Shedge attributes his IPL breakthrough to trusting instinct over overthinking, guided by captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting.
Suryansh Shedge credited captain Shreyas Iyer for pushing him to avoid overthinking during a practice session before the IPL 2026 season. 'I think that stuck with me before the season started… I think he always keeps me on my toes,' Shedge said ahead of PBKS' match against Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala. The two regularly discuss cricket, covering technique, mindset, and areas for mutual improvement.
Under head coach Ricky Ponting, Shedge felt honored and learned the mantra of 'preparation, preparation, preparation — nothing else.' Ponting encouraged him to trust himself, be bold, and recognize his place in the team. Shedge recalled a conversation after PBKS' fourth or fifth game where Ponting asked if he felt frustrated. Initially denying it, Shedge admitted to occasional nighttime doubts. Ponting responded, 'I can totally understand how you're feeling. Right now, it's easy to get bogged down and start thinking negatively; but it's harder to stay in the present and keep focusing on your preparation so that if and when you get a chance, you're turned on and you're ready to give it your all.'
In the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shedge played three key finishing innings for Mumbai: 30* off eight balls, 36* off 12 balls, and 36* off 15 balls — performances that matched modern T20 demands. The last two innings came in the quarter-final and final as Mumbai lifted the trophy. By IPL 2026, Shedge had grown older and more experienced, having faced pressure situations like batting at 4 down for 40 or 50 in domestic cricket. 'In the last two years — if you look at my Under-23 also this year — I've been put into situations where we were four down for 40 or 50. And then I had to play that spell and capitalise on the loose balls.'
Shedge seized a key opportunity in IPL 2026 when PBKS faced Gujarat Titans at 36 for 4 in the sixth over, with world-class bowlers Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada in the attack. Remaining calm, he first negotiated Rashid Khan before settling in and backing himself to play his shots. 'I think once you're exposed to higher cricket, you kind of learn a lot of new things. And there [in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy] my role was only [being] the finisher. I only got to bat for a certain amount of time.' He reached 50 off 24 balls and finished with 57 off 29, helping PBKS recover, though they fell short in the end.
Shedge highlighted how exposure to higher-level cricket taught him to prepare differently: 'If you look at the GT game, I had a lot of time left in the game. So when you're preparing in the nets, you also have to prepare for that — what if you go into bat early and then you have to spend time there?' He described the journey from domestic to IPL as less about technique and more about mindset. 'As you progress in cricket, you get the hang of playing in different situations. So I think preparation-wise, it's not much different from what I did two years back. But I think the mindset shift is what gives a player the edge.'
Shedge sought guidance from former India and Mumbai batter Jatin Paranjape, who advised focusing on the present moment. 'And [he said] whenever you're overthinking, come to me, talk about stuff. It can be about cricket, it can be about life,' Shedge recalled. 'You just need to feel light when your head hits the pillow, and [be] ready for the next [game].' This approach aligned with Ponting’s emphasis on staying present and trusting preparation.
During a month on the bench in IPL 2026, Shedge worked on his technique, making one key adjustment in his initial movement to move quicker. He practiced against spinners and short balls, breaking sessions into focused net stints where he concentrated solely on watching the ball. 'There was this little tweak I made in my initial movement, where I got the best chance of moving quicker. And then we were practicing short stuff and [batting against] spinners.' He shifted from premeditative to instinctive play, believing it improved his chances of success. 'I think that has helped me. Even in practice, if I'm just instinctive and I let my body take control and I just focus on watching the ball, I think I have better chances of succeeding in the game.'
Shedge's progress comes at a critical juncture for PBKS, who had lost three consecutive games before his stand against Gujarat Titans. His ability to perform under pressure suggests he may no longer need to rely on the bench. The team's form dip could make his contributions even more valuable as they look to reverse their recent slide.