Punjab Kings might have fallen to Gujarat Titans in what was a rare off-day for the franchise’s batting line-up, but Suryansh Shedge still delivered a statement performance lower down the order. Coming in with the chase already under pressure, the 23-year-old played like a finisher in the making—hitting hard, accelerating quickly, and making the Titans work for every boundary.
Key takeaways
- Punjab Kings were jolted early and at one stage slipped to 36/4 during the match.
- Suryansh Shedge struck 57 runs off 29 balls, including three sixes and five fours.
- His burst included an over where Manav Suthar was hit for three maximums and two boundaries.
- Shedge was dismissed on the last ball of the 16th over by Kagiso Rabada.
- Punjab finished on 163/9, a total Shedge described as competitive despite the defeat.
Punjab’s top order falters as Shedge tries to rebuild
Punjab Kings, who had been sitting at the top of the table and looked the most consistent side across the season, saw their top and middle order collapse for the first time on Sunday. The innings didn’t get going the way PBKS would have wanted, and they were left reeling at 36/4 at one point.
Shedge walked in at a crucial moment, and it was only his second outing of the season. He began with calm intent—getting into a repair mode immediately—before shifting gears and taking the attack to Gujarat Titans. In particular, he punished Manav Suthar in the only over he bowled, landing three sixes and two fours to quickly change the momentum.
57 off 29 and a fighting finish
Even with the acceleration, Shedge’s innings ended at a difficult time. He was dismissed after reaching 57 off 29 deliveries, striking three fours and five sixes in the process. His departure came on the last ball of the 16th over, with Kagiso Rabada getting the breakthrough.
By the end of the innings, Punjab Kings could post only 163/9. The target would have tested Gujarat Titans, but it still didn’t feel like a total that guaranteed victory under all match conditions.
Speaking after the game, Shedge said, “Perhaps we could have scored 20 to 25 more runs, but I still believe 163 was a fighting total. We gave everything we had, and there are many positives to take from this game.”
Preparing for the opportunity and reading the Ahmedabad pitch
This was Shedge’s second appearance of the season after five matches in 2025. Despite his limited action so far, he made it clear he wasn’t simply waiting for his moment—he was working for it. He added that time away from the XI helped him prepare both physically and mentally, and that guidance from within the setup reinforced the need to be ready when called upon.
“I wouldn’t say I was waiting; I was preparing. The time on the sidelines benefited me, and it gave me the opportunity to prepare physically and mentally. Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer have consistently told me the same thing, too: when the opportunity arrives, you must be ready to take it with both hands. That is what I tried to do today,” Shedge said.
Shedge also pointed to conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, noting that the surface wasn’t especially friendly for batting. He said he realised the nature of the pitch early in his innings and adjusted his approach accordingly.
“My only intention was to spend as much time at the crease as possible, and I think that made things easier as I progressed through the innings. On such wickets, a batter has to take time to settle before playing expansive shots. Targeting 240 or 250 on this track was never realistic; the double-paced surface simply did not allow it,” he explained.
