According to his mentor and former national selector Jatin Paranjape, Suryansh Shedge can turn his unexpected call-up to India into a memorable learning experience by just being perceptive in an experienced dressing room with some assistance from young captains Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill.
Iyer’s T20 leadership might be especially comforting for the 23-year-old Shedge, according to Paranjape, a former India player who has mentored the Mumbai all-rounder over the past 1.5 years. The two have a successful association in Mumbai and Punjab Kings.
“Yeah, I think not only Shreyas but also (ODI captain) Shubman. Because both of them are young captains. And both of them are captains with a lot of empathy,” Paranjape told PTI after Shedge’s maiden India call-up for the white-ball tour of Ireland and England following the injury-forced withdrawal of Nitish Kumar Reddy.
“And they will understand the pressure Suryansh will be feeling, the nervousness that he will be feeling. Shreyas definitely, because they know each other, Suryansh has played under him. So, there will be a lot of comfort.”
Paranjape believes that Gill may lead Shedge even in ODIs as Reddy and Hardik Pandya are not on the UK tour.
“Mainly because he is young and he will be able to relate to what’s going on inside that debutant’s mind, basically.”
Paranjape’s advice for the forthcoming tour, which starts on June 26 with two Twenty20 Internationals against Ireland, is straightforward: learn as much as you can.
“If you are able to be a sponge… And my advice to him is to be a sponge around all the champions in that dressing room. So, I think if he is able to adapt to that atmosphere, I think England is a great location,” he said.
According to Paranjape, the opportunity should be welcomed with humility since it is the result of hard labor.
“This has come as a lucky break. He accepts it with all humility and he will try to do his best for the team. That’s the message. Always be a team-man. Think like a captain and try to win games for your team,” he said.
According to Paranjape, he initially got to know Shedge through a common friend and saw right away that he had a profile that Indian cricket sorely needed.
“I have been involved with him for probably the last year and a half. And he is a very, very talented cricketer and he has shown glimpses of that talent in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.”
“But what really enthuses me is that here is an all-rounder and we are looking for all-rounders. We are looking for fast bowling all-rounders, batsmen who can bowl medium pace. We are looking for spin all-rounders as well.”
Paranjape claims that Shedge’s development quickened once he was able to overcome the technical obstacles that many aspiring cricket players face.
“So, I knew about him. But when we met, there were a few things which were kind of impeding his progress. And these are very natural roadblocks that top-flight cricketers face on their journey.”
“And at the end of the day, I think it was just about him knowing that I am here for him. I genuinely believed in him as a cricketer from an ability, from a skill perspective.”
The former national selector stated that he was optimistic about Shedge’s future since he thought the young player might develop into a true all-format cricket player. Improving Shedge’s bowling has been a major component of his growth.
Subroto Banerjee, a renowned bowling coach and former national selector, has been closely assisting the young player with the technical aspects of his bowling, according to Paranjape. Although Shedge’s batting is now superior to his bowling, Paranjape thinks the difference is quickly closing.
“But Subroto Banerjee and I are working on his bowling as well. There are a couple of technical things which Subbu (Banerjee’s nickname) is working on.”
“And once those settle in over the next few months, I think he is a guy who will be then able to select himself as a batter or as a bowler. I think he will be genuinely an all-rounder.”
