I want to be the strike bowler and go-to batter: Shedge

Suryansh Shedge wants to be the all-rounder his team can turn to when a game is on the line.

His India-A outing against Australia-A strengthened his case, with 79 runs, including a 60-ball 66, and five wickets in the three-match one-day series.

A possible maiden ODI call-up for the New Zealand tour is now a talking point, but his immediate focus is Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy fixture against Himachal Pradesh. “It has all been about progress. I got certain windows where I was able to work on my skills and mentality at the CoE, back home. I spoke to a lot of senior players and coaches,” he told The Hindu.

Preparation, he says, is key to feeling ready on match day.

“It all comes down to how you’re feeling when game day arrives. If you’re feeling confident and feel like you’ve done everything you could, then there will be no doubts.”

His India call-up, a few months back, gave him a chance to work on his bowling, with Hardik Pandya among those he approached for advice. “It was mainly about game sense, understanding the situation and making certain tweaks that give you an edge in different kinds of situations. It was especially about bowling, how I can become a better bowler mentally, and, obviously, some technical skill work that needed to be done,” he said.

His ambition is clear. “I want to take it to another level where I’m the strike bowler and the go-to batter…”

Shedge also writes in his diary to clear his mind after difficult moments. “If you speak to any senior cricketer or seek guidance from them, they will tell you just one thing — forget,” he said. “If you’re able to forget (the past) as a cricketer and as a sportsperson, the next day will always be better.”