Suryansh Shedge in action against Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinal. (X/BCCI Domestic)
In a star-studded Mumbai team which includes a top five of Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, it is the 21-year-old Suryansh Shedge who is hogging the limelight at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. If his unbeaten 8-ball 30 against Andhra had ensured Mumbai finish top of the table and thereby avoid playing the pre-quarterfinals, on Wednesday he scored 36 off 12 deliveries against Vidarbha to book a semi-final showdown with fellow title contenders Baroda.
Like against Andhra, Rahane had done all the scoring at the top in a massive chase of 222 against Vidarbha at Alur with Shaw contributing a quickfire 26-ball 49. And the task at hand on Wednesday was a lot more challenging for the young Shedge as the asking rate had climbed to 15 runs an over in the last four overs. Dube, the designated power-hitter and finisher, was struggling for rhythm. And after playing out Yash Thakur without taking any risks in his first three deliveries, he saw a favourite match-up in off-spinner Mandar Mahale.
“So before I went in I’d done calculations as to who would bowl. Thakur had only one over left and they had to bowl a spinner. They won’t bowl Parth Rekhade (left-arm spinner) because Shivam bhaiya (southpaw) was there. So I knew they would bowl a spinner and I was just waiting for the moment. And as soon as they brought in the off-spinner, I could take my chance and make it a 25-run over. And since Shivam bhaiya was also there, I knew we could take the game away in no time. I was just focussing on a ball-by-ball battle. And I was just going back to my mantra which I keep repeating even in my room – to believe in myself,” Shedge tells The Indian Express.
Suryansh Shedge is at it again 🔥
Smashes 4⃣,6⃣,6⃣,6⃣, as Mumbai take 24 off the crucial 17th over!#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/6VsAOYwAI8 pic.twitter.com/bplBTilNKp
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 11, 2024
Shedge would start the over with a four and boundary and finish it with successive sixes – all sailed over mid-wicket. In the next over, Dube would deposit left-arm seamer Dipesh Parwani for two huge sixes over long-on as Vidarbha conceded 36 runs in space of 8 deliveries that changed the game on its head. Mumbai would eventually get home with four deliveries to spare with Shedge hitting the winning six.
Playing the finisher’s role didn’t happen by default. With their India internationals making themselves available, Shedge had no choice but to take up the role. “It is new for me, but I’ve been inculcating a lot of good habits in practice. I’ve been practising for the role as this is my first senior T20 tournament and I didn’t want to lose out on any opportunity. The batting order is packed, so when you play at No.5 or 6, you have to make adjustments accordingly, and I learnt it will be a one-ball battle,” Shedge says.
Playing shorter sets in the nets
In the days leading up to the SMAT, in the practice sessions he faced not more than 6-10 deliveries at a stretch. Conversations with Suryakumar and Shreyas Iyer would help and so would the chats with Dube. “Being a finisher there is not much time to settle. It all comes to execution, where you go in with a clear mind and not look at the score and just focus on the ball. So in practice I would target different pockets to score and explore different areas. We were playing a lot of red-ball cricket and for SMAT, at the nets I would start playing from the first ball. I’m not sorted as yet, but what I’m trying to do is play shorter sets. So when I play a set of 6 balls, I will keep a target and try to achieve that,” Shedge, who bowls medium pace, says.
Despite being an explosive batsman, the calmness and confidence in Shedge’s tone stands out. He credits his mentors Abhishek Nayar, Monty Desai and childhood coach Manish Bangera and his support system which involves his parents and two close friends. When Mumbai won the SMAT in the 2022/23 season, he was part of the squad but spent the entire tournament warming the bench. A stress-fracture would keep him out of white-ball tournaments last year, a period that allowed him to understand his game better. The comeback wasn’t as straightforward, he would play the Under-23 tournaments for Mumbai before getting the senior call-up.
Mumbai are into the semis 👏
They ace yet another run chase, chasing down 222 against Vidarbha to win by 6 wickets 🙌
With 60 needed off the last 4 overs, Shivam Dube & Suryansh Shedge pulled off a terrific win 👌#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/6VsAOYwAI8 pic.twitter.com/bQ0Ds4J94q
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 11, 2024
Shedge received calls for trials with four franchises before Punjab Kings bagged him at his base price for Rs 30 lakh. He saw the paddle being raised when he was in the company of his Mumbai teammates in a bus. And it is a moment that Shedge says didn’t change anything. “I was definitely happy, but after an hour, I just went back to my usual routines. I’m a very private person, who has a very close circle. So once I shared the moment with them, I started looking ahead. Playing for Mumbai is an ultimate dream and I want to win the title with them,” Shedge says.
Brief Scores: Vidarbha 221/6 in 20 overs (Atharva Taide 66, Apoorv Wankhade 51, Shubham Dubey 43 n.o) lost to Mumbai 224/4 in 19.2 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 84, Prithvi Shaw 49, Shivam Dune 37 n.o, Suryansh Shedge 36 n.o)
