IPL 2026 | ‘Kya Betting Kelly Re’: Punjab Kings’ Suryanesh Shedge reveals exclusive chat with Rohit Sharma Cricket News

“One thing about Rohitbhai is that he is always positive. I remember when we (Mumbai) won the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and after that he came to play for us in a Ranji Trophy match, he said to me, ‘Kya bating kelly ray. ki sigle bagat hoto muchi ektra’, what a brilliant batting we all saw!” Online media interaction from Dharamsala on Saturday, where Punjab Kings will play their next three home games starting Monday. “I have spoken to Rohitbhai a lot, and learned a lot. When you are in the presence of great people, you can learn a lot even in a five-minute conversation, because you are automatically a good listener there. When someone who has played cricket for 15-20 years and won tournaments for his country, stands in front of you and talks to you about cricket, who is a good 3-year player to listen to you – say You have to listen.” Shadej, who was bought by Punjab Kings in the November 2024 auction for his base price of Rs 30 lakh, had a poor time in IPL-2025, managing to score just seven runs in five matches @ 2.33. That year, the young Turk was on the bench for the first eight matches before finally getting his chance. Seizing the opportunity, the Mumbaikar scored 3 not out off 29 balls, a brilliant 57 off 29 balls against Gujarat Titans and 25 off 17 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in his first three matches. Being more natural at the crease, rather than overthinking each ball, has helped improve his batting this IPL season, said Shadge. “One shift I made was instinctive and not premeditated, even in practice, and that has helped me achieve better success,” Schedge said.He revealed a ‘heart-to-heart’ chat with PBKS head coach and former Australian great Ricky Ponting, during which the Mumbai all-rounder confessed his disappointment at not getting a game. Ponting encouraged them to be ready to seize their opportunity. “Our conversations were always about how well I was batting in the nets and how I could get a chance at any time. I remember after the fourth or fifth game, after the nets session, he took me aside and asked if I was down. At first I said ‘no’. He said, ‘Be honest.’ So I told her ‘yes’ I felt like that sometimes at night. He said he understood (my situation) and told me that ‘four or five players from our franchise can go to the playing eleven of any other franchise.“It’s easy to get stuck in the heart and think negatively, but it’s hard to stay in the present and focus on preparation so that when the opportunity arises, you’re ready,” he said. This conversation helped me a lot, and I was really honored to have this conversation with him. It was a heart to heart. That’s why I always say that Ricky is one of the best coaches I’ve ever played under,” Schedge said.“With Ricky, it’s always been about preparation, preparation, preparation. They keep reminding us that this was the success in the first leg of this IPL and last year’s IPL. He also says that no matter what, you have to pull yourself back, have courage and know that you belong. In the end, when it all comes down to facing the ball, it helps,” he added.The young all-rounder has a comfort factor with his PBKS captain. Shreyas Iyerwho is also their captain in the Mumbai T20 team. “Shreyas bhai and I talk a lot about cricket. Sometimes he asks me about his batting, sometimes I ask him about mine. Constructive criticism is important, and only a healthy team environment can provide that,” said Schedge.Talking about the positive impact his interaction with Iyer had on him during the pre-season intra-squad warm-up match, Shedge said, “I remember an internal practice game before the IPL started. I was batting well and was not out on 65 or 70 runs, while Shreyas bhai was in the fielding side and Arshad (Singh) bhai was bowling. I hit two boundaries off the first two balls. Then he bowled all the yorkers. I tried to play a scoop and ended up with a non-striker, wondering what went wrong. Shreyas bhai was on cover, and I asked him if I had left early. He told me, ‘You are batting well, don’t think too much.’ It really stayed with me before the season started. That way you are prepared when you actually go out to bat in the middle. If I had started thinking about things that were out of my control, or if I had let negative thoughts enter my mind, I would not have been able to perform in that situation. He always keeps me on my toes, and we talk a lot about cricket – technique, attitude, and what we can both improve. That way we keep the environment positive.”In Mumbai, Shades trains under former Indian player and selector Jatin Paranjape at the Vasu Paranjape Cricket Centre. “Suryanish is the next big thing in the making (in Mumbai and Indian cricket). I am proud of the kid,” Pranjape told TOI.“Explaining what Pranjape advises him about his game, which is essentially about “living in the moment”, Mumbaikar said, “His advice is simple: ‘Do whatever you can today. Think about today, not tomorrow or tomorrow.’ If I start thinking in those terms, I’m not giving myself the best chance to grow. He tells me to live in the moment and make the most of the day. He told me ‘whenever you are thinking too much, come to him and talk – it can be about cricket or life. When your head hits the pillow you need to feel light and ready for the next day,” she said.Asked about Punjab Kings’ numerous fielding mistakes so far in IPL 2026, Shadge said, “It’s not just us who are making mistakes, it can happen to any franchise and it has happened in the past. So I don’t think we should focus on it. Because when we were winning games and we were the same, were we all playing at the same time? Tells you it’s a temporary thing and we get over it. will“