IANS Exclusive: Mumbai/Zoom: Suryansh Shedge on SMAT Success and Punjab Kings On SMAT Final Winning the SMAT championship was a big confidence boost. Contributing with match-winning performances was special. On Playing with Iyer he said, Having Iyer in the squad eases the pressure. I’m excited to play alongside him again. On his role he said, I’m ready to contribute in any role, whether batting, bowling, or fielding. On Punjab Kings he said, We’re a balanced team, and everyone’s working hard to be a match-winner. On Challenges coming up said, Setbacks like last year’s injury have strengthened my resolve to succeed.
#SuryanshShedge #PunjabKings #IPL2025 #SMATChampion #CricketJourney #RisingStar
#SuryanshShedge #PunjabKings #IPL2025 #SMATChampion #CricketJourney #RisingStar
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00:00I think it's going really well. They've organised a pre-season camp for us here in Mumbai.
00:05And we've practised hard the last three days.
00:08Obviously, SMAD went really well for me personally and for the team.
00:12We won the championship.
00:13And I was able to pull out some match-winning performances.
00:18So that's a big confidence booster going into the season.
00:23Obviously, when you play for a franchisee, there's a bit of pressure.
00:26But him being in the squad will make it easier for me.
00:29Because I can go to someone and talk about how I'm feeling.
00:33And we have that understanding because I've played under him already.
00:37I don't know if he's going to be the captain here.
00:39But, you know, I'll be excited to play with him and share the dressing room with him.
00:45I don't think it's a smooth ride for anyone.
00:47So the reason I got interested in cricket is because my Nana was a cricket lover.
00:53And he was watching IPL.
00:54And Mumbai Indians was playing that light blue and dark blue strip JOSI.
00:59I think I was 8.
01:00And I saw this sport and I got fascinated by it.
01:03And I picked up the bat the same night.
01:04And I've been playing ever since.
01:06But, you know, last year, I had a couple of setbacks.
01:11I got injured twice.
01:14So I was playing the under-25 CK Nairo Trophy.
01:18And my one days had gone well.
01:20So I got a stress fracture in the back.
01:23And then I was out for three months.
01:25And the auction was also around the same time.
01:28So my name came up twice.
01:29But I went unsold.
01:31And mid-season, Jaidev Bia got injured.
01:35So Lucknow approached me and said,
01:37Are you fit?
01:38We want to pick you.
01:38We want to sign you.
01:40But I was injured then.
01:41So they told me, once the MRI comes clear, you call us.
01:45We'll fly you down.
01:47So as soon as I got recovered, I called them and they signed me there.
01:51And I spoke to Gautam Gambhir sir also.
01:53So they told me, gain as much experience as you can from this year.
01:57So that you go into next year with confidence.
02:01But again, I went for a pre-season camp with the Mumbai senior team to Alur.
02:06And everything was going well.
02:07I scored a 100 there.
02:09And I came back to Mumbai.
02:11My back was paining a bit.
02:12So I got a scan done.
02:13And my injury had relapsed.
02:15So that was a big blow for me because the retention couldn't go through.
02:19And I was missing the white ball season, obviously.
02:22Smart and vigils are it.
02:23So I was taken aback.
02:25First two months were a blur.
02:26I didn't know what to do.
02:28But my parents and a couple of friends helped me get out of it.
02:31And there's a quote I go by which says, let me fall if I must fall.
02:36The one I will become will catch me.
02:38So I used to repeat that every day.
02:40And I wanted to come back stronger.
02:43And as soon as I recovered, I scored three centuries in three matches.
02:47A division cricket.
02:48And I was picked for the under-23 team again.
02:51There I scored a couple of hundreds.
02:53And then I made my Ranji Trophy debut last year.
02:56So ever since, it has been up and down.
02:59But I've faced a lot of ups and downs.
03:01Whenever there's an important tournament or opportunity,
03:05sometimes something or the other happens.
03:07So that has made me stronger, obviously.
03:10Nothing in particular.
03:11It's just the love for the sport.
03:13And that end goal, obviously.
03:15I like living in the present.
03:16Last one year, I've practiced living in the present.
03:20And that makes everything better, obviously.
03:22Because then you're not thinking about the past.
03:24And you're not worried about the future.
03:26You're just here.
03:27If I'm practicing, I'm focusing on the practice.
03:30If I'm with my family, I'm focusing on having a good time.
03:34So that's why I'm here.
03:36So I've played every sport there is.
03:39And I've tried to excel in all of them.
03:41It was like, it was the time of the under-14s.
03:43And I had gone for a swimming competition for school.
03:47My coach told my parents to make me quit cricket and make me a swimmer for India.
03:54But my love for the game was obviously there.
03:57So it's just that I hate losing.
04:00So whatever I'm doing, whatever game I'm playing,
04:03if I'm playing a practice match or I'm playing any other sport, I want to win.
04:08So competitiveness, I don't think will be an issue for me.
04:11Because I hate losing.
04:13And that's it.
04:14Basically, this season, it will be the Ranji Trophy.
04:18Obviously, we'll try to win the Ranji Trophy.
04:21That's the one thing I'd add right now.
04:24First thing I'd add.
04:24But after that, I think this franchisee has showed a lot of faith in me by picking me in the auction.
04:30And I will try my best to win games for them.
04:33So that we achieve the end goal of picking up the trophy.
04:35Same role, I think, which I played for Mumbai.
04:39I envision myself doing the same role.
04:41So yeah.
04:42I'm ready to bat anywhere, whichever role the franchisee gives me.
04:46I don't have an issue.
04:47I just want to contribute in everything I'm getting in every department.
04:51I'm getting an opportunity in batting, fielding or bowling.
04:55I just want to contribute for the team.
04:58After the injury, I was always into training, gym and running.
05:02But after the injury, I've become a bit mindful of what my body needs, what is bad for it.
05:08So I'm trying to balance everything out.
05:11Like we have a five-day camp.
05:14From tomorrow, I play a two-day tournament for my club.
05:18But these three days, I batted and I bowled yesterday and day before.
05:22Today, I just batted.
05:23So I've gotten an idea of how to do what to do.
05:29I think we're very balanced as a team.
05:31And obviously, when 11 of us enter the field, I think everyone wants to be a match winner.
05:39So it'll help us.
05:40And even in the preseason camp, I've seen players put in the hard yards.
05:45So everything is going well.
05:47And as I said, I like living in the present.
05:49So when that moment comes, we'll think about it.