Suryansh Shedge, the Punjab Kings batting all-rounder, has revealed that head coach Ricky Ponting pulled him aside mid-tournament after a net session to address his frustration at being benched, offering counsel that staying present and focused on preparation was harder than surrendering to negative thoughts. Speaking in a virtual roundtable with reporters on May 9, Shedge unpacked his journey from the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy breakout to his current role at PBKS, the coaching wisdom from Jatin Paranjape, and the team's response to three consecutive defeats.

The mindset shift

Shedge credited his evolution to a fundamental change in approach rather than technical overhaul. "Once you're exposed to higher-level cricket, you learn new things," he said, noting that his role in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy was purely as a finisher, whereas IPL demands versatility across match situations. He emphasized that preparation outside the match translates into match performance, and that a mindset shift — not radical technique change — gives a player the edge.

Paranjape's mantra: watch the ball

Working closely with Jatin Paranjape, Shedge has adopted a simple repetitive keyword: "Watch the ball, it will tell you what to do." This philosophy extends beyond batting into life management. Paranjape's core advice, Shedge explained, is to focus on the present day, avoid overthinking about tomorrow or yesterday, and maintain emotional lightness. "Be in the present and try to make the best of the day," Shedge recounted. "Whenever you're overthinking, come to me, talk about stuff. It can be about cricket, or life."

Ponting's pivotal intervention

The turning point came after the fourth or fifth IPL game, when Ponting sensed Shedge's frustration during a net session and pulled him aside. Initially reluctant to admit his feelings, Shedge acknowledged that nights on the sidelines were difficult. Ponting responded with candour: "I can totally understand how you're feeling. Four or five players from our franchise can walk into any other franchise and play in the playing eleven. But it's easy to get bogged down and start thinking negatively. It's harder to stay in the present and keep focusing on your preparation so that if and when you get a chance, you're turned on and you're ready to give it your all." Shedge called it a "heart-to-heart talk" that reinforced his respect for the legendary coach.

Handling pressure and crowd noise

On staying calm in high-stakes situations — such as needing 15 runs off the final over — Shedge stressed that external factors like crowd noise and opposition sentiment are beyond his control. What matters is his batting, attitude, and commitment to the team. "Part of becoming a professional cricketer is how you soak up that pressure," he said. "That only happens when you're happy with how you've prepared."

Addressing fielding lapses

PBKS suffered fielding errors in their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but Shedge framed the setback as temporary. "Fielding lapses can happen to the best of us," he noted, adding that the team's focus is now on strategies and practice drills moving forward. With four games remaining before the playoffs, he expressed confidence that the group will bounce back stronger through collective backing and open communication.

The dressing room mood after three straight losses

PBKS has lost three consecutive matches and faces playoff qualification pressure. However, Shedge underscored that the team's preparation and atmosphere — kept deliberately light and happy since Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer took charge last year — remain intact. The team won six matches with the same approach, he noted, and blamed-game talk is counterproductive. "Right now, we need to stick together as a team," he said. "That is what will help us."

Technical work during the bench period

Shedge revealed that while benched, he refined his initial movement to generate quicker footwork, worked extensively against short-pitched bowling and spinners, and returned to fundamentals — watching the ball and playing instinctively rather than premeditated shots. "That one shift which I made was being instinctive and not premeditative — I think that has helped me," he explained. He spent 30 minutes in the nets daily focusing purely on ball-watching without overthinking, a discipline he credits with sharpening his game awareness.