NEW DELHI: Mumbai and Punjab Kings young all-rounder Suryansh Shedge, who got his maiden India call-up on Tuesday after replacing the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy in India’s T20I squads for the series against Ireland and England, was naturally full of joy.“Actually, I still can’t understand it and I don’t think I will be able to understand it until I get on the flight! I still can’t believe it! This is my dream since childhood. And obviously, it’s a very special feeling. And I feel very proud and happy for my parents (Prashant and Priyadarshini), for the sacrifices they made for me. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been a cricketer either,” the 23-year-old told TOI.“My mom worked at the bank, but she quit because she had to accompany me to training and matches,” he revealed.Shedge has been training under former Indian batsman Jatin Paranjape for the past two years and the former cricketer has been working diligently to improve his protégé’s game.Expressing his gratitude to his coaches, Shedge said, “The way Manish Bangera, Jatin and Monty Desai have helped me along the way is very touching because they really believed in me. If the environment is such that everyone knows my capabilities, and if they keep telling me (about my abilities), self-belief comes automatically. So that’s helped me a lot.”Shedge will be helped by having played under Shreyas Iyer, India’s new T20 captain, for both Mumbai and Punjab Kings.“That is absolutely true. In the last two years, I have made four debuts under him – in SMAT, Vijay Hazare Trophy, India A and IPL. “He’s someone who gives 100% in terms of attitude and commitment to the team, and that mentality permeates the whole side,” Shedge said.Announcing Shedge’s selection as Reddy’s replacement after the latter suffered a quadriceps injury, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated, “Suryansh has earned the call after a string of impressive performances for India A in the recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka. Batting in the middle order, the 23-year-old scored 147 runs in five matches and also got involved with the ball, bowling 23 overs across the tournament. He was also one of the top performers for Mumbai in their 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy winning campaign, scoring 131 runs at a strike rate of 251.92 in the lower middle order.“Apparently, Shedge’s ability to bowl big hits in rallies, along with contributing some useful medium-paced overs, has earned the confidence of Ajit Agarkar and his fellow selectors.India begin their tour with a two-match T20I series against Ireland in Belfast on Friday before taking on England in a five-match T20I series, starting in Chester-le-Street on July 1.However, Shedge felt he “should have done better” in the three series in Sri Lanka.“I didn’t do well in the last two matches,” he lamented.India are scheduled to play five T20Is and three ODIs in England in July. Otherwise, India is without the services of star all-rounders Hardik Pandya on the UK tour with a quadriceps injury and weight-related issues. Reddy was expected to fill the void left by Hardik but now Shedge will be tasked to fill those big boots.After playing well for India A, did he expect this opportunity?“No. For the last two-three years, my mindset has been that I shouldn’t have any expectations from my cricket, because I think it’s important at this stage to remind yourself why you started playing cricket. When I was 8-10 years old and going out on the field, I just enjoyed playing the sport. So, somewhere along the way we forget that. However, for the last two-three years, I have been practicing gratitude and reminding myself why I started playing cricket,” he said.“So I don’t have any expectations,” he added.Shedge’s resume is enhanced by his ability to bowl a useful medium-pacer brand.“I think my bowling has improved a lot in the last two years and it’s something I’m working hard on, because I know how much it can benefit the team. And if I want to contribute, I will have to improve day by day,” he commented.Shedge has scored 158 runs in seven matches at an average of 39.50 for Punjab Kings in IPL 2026.“I faced international bowlers in the IPL, so that was also a big confidence booster. And after sitting out half the season, I was very proud to be playing in the XI,” he said.Who is he trying to emulate as an all-rounder? The all-rounder smiled, “I idolize Ben Stokes. If you see, he bowls a spell of 12 overs in the Ashes. And he also has to do it for his team. He has to contribute. So I look up to him.”
