Why everyone in IPL should fear Suryansh Shedge’s power-hitting?
Picture this: a fresh-faced cricketer, barely a whisper in the cricketing world, somehow finds himself standing tall among stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Ajinkya Rahane. Sounds like a fairytale? Well, that’s the story of Suryansh Shedge, the 22-year-old Mumbai boy who’s done just that. Snagged by Punjab Kings at a his base price of rupees 30 lakh, he’s got the talent to light up IPL 2025 like a firecracker – if they give him a chance.
A Star on the Rise
The swashbuckling youngster burst onto the scene in 2019 when he hit an eye-popping 326 not out off just 137 balls for Mumbadevi during the Giles Shield Trophy. Yes, you read that right—326 not out of just 137 deliveries. The 21-year-old Mumbai batter then made his First-class debut in the 2023/24 Ranji Trophy season. But it was the 2024/25 season when he truly made waves, leaving fans and foes alike shaking their heads in disbelief. Playing against Tripura, Shedge launched a fearless 99 and then followed it up with an unbeaten 79 against Odisha at home.
Overshadowing the Greats
His recent form is like a nightmare for any bowler unlucky enough to face him. He stormed through the last Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, outshining T20 bigwigs like Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Ajinkya Rahane in the Mumbai camp. Batting lower down the order, he averaged a solid 43.6 in 9 innings—but wait, that’s not even the most impressive part. The real jaw-dropper? He blasted those runs at a staggering strike rate of 251.9, the highest of the season among anyone who faced at least 20 balls. Talk about sending shivers down the opposition's spine!
A Complete Package
He is an ace finisher and someone who keeps a cool head in tense situations. To put things into perspective, Mumbai needed 64 off 29 balls In the quarterfinal match and while most would’ve broken into a sweat, Shedge made it look like a walk in the park. He smacked an unbeaten 36 off just 12 balls, carrying his team over the finish line with 4 balls to spare. Even in the final against Madhya Pradesh, his 15-ball 36* saw him earn the Player of the Match award as Mumbai lifted the title. And if you think he's just about smashing runs, think again! With 8 wickets from 9 SMAT games this season, Shedge is a full-on cricket Swiss army knife, offering everything from power hitting to wicket-taking wizardry!
The Iconic Opportunity
He might not have played an IPL match yet, but Suryansh Shedge has already tasted the big league. Last season, he was snapped up by the Lucknow Super Giants as a replacement for Jaydev Unadkat, but he didn't get a nod for his debut. This season, he’s joined the Punjab Kings—home to T20 heavyweights like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and his Mumbai captain, Shreyas Iyer. Rising above such force to make a name for himself will be tough but if there's one thing that Shedge has proved is the fact that, if given a chance, he has all the arsenal to go from an underdog to an icon.
