Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) newest all-rounder, Suryansh Shedge, recently recounted his experience of playing his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) match. The young cricketer revealed that he wasn’t aware he would be part of the playing XI until match day itself, but head coach Ricky Ponting ensured he stayed motivated and focused.
In an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda, Shedge reflected on his debut game for PBKS, which came against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 25. His impressive run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Mumbai played a key role in Punjab handing him his first IPL cap in their opening fixture of the 2025 season.
Speaking about the match and the lead-up to it, Shedge shared:
“When we came to Ahmedabad, Ricky Sir (Ricky Ponting) was constantly talking to me during practice. Playing XI ke bare mein to end day tak pata nahi chalta. I had no idea about the playing XI till the end of the day, as things keep changing according to the conditions. However, I had it in my mind that he could make me play and I was fully prepared for it. I was preparing according to that.”
“When we were leaving for the match, Ricky Sir sent me 2-3 messages and this increased my confidence a lot. He is such an individual, who talks about attitude. If you are with him, then you will also become like him, his aim is only to win,” he added.
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“Nothing Much on My Mind” – Shedge on IPL Debut
In the same interview, Suryansh Shedge shared insights into his mindset during his debut match against the Gujarat Titans. Although he didn’t get an opportunity to bat, he noted that the top-order batters had already done an excellent job.
“There was nothing much on my mind and I knew that I have to play according to the situation. I said that the more balls I play, the more boundaries I will hit. At that time it was fun watching the way Shreyas bhai and Shashank bhai were batting. I was trying to learn a lot by watching their batting,” Shedge said.
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