A couple of days ago, India-A walked off the field frustrated and bewildered after a controversial Super Over defeat to Sri Lanka-A left its hopes of reaching the Tri-Nation tournament final hanging by a thread.

On Wednesday, though, there was a different energy about the side. The team shut out the noise, regrouped and responded in the best possible way, with a commanding 101-run victory over Afghanistan-A to keep its campaign alive.

For all-rounder Suryansh Shedge, the turnaround was a reflection of the team’s ability to stay level-headed after a setback. Rather than dwell on what had gone wrong, the players got together, reassessed their plans and focused on the next challenge.

“As people say, cricket is a great leveller. Every day is a new day. We always knew that if we could win three games on the trot, we could lose the next three. If we lose three games, we can win six after that,” Shedge told  Sportstar.

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“That’s what cricket is. We only had to come up with better plans and we did that…”

The optimism was rooted in what the team had already shown during the defeat to Sri Lanka-A. On a surface where batting was anything but straightforward, India-A looked in serious trouble before Shedge and Vipraj Nigam pieced together a remarkable 104-run stand for the eighth wicket, dragging the total to a competitive 265. On the way, they both scored their maiden List A fifties.

It eventually ended in heartbreak, but the fightback left a lasting impression within the dressing room. “Even in that game, from the situation we came back from, only strong teams and strong-minded people could do that…”

“That was a huge positive for us because we came back from a situation where it looked like we wouldn’t even score 200 runs and then we went on to score 265. We were just short of the finish line,” he said, before breaking into a smile.

“Every day we make a few changes and come back as better individuals. In turn, we come back as a better team…”

That willingness to keep improving has become a hallmark of Shedge’s game. Over the last few seasons, he has built a reputation as a dependable lower-order hitter and a useful all-round option. His IPL 2026 campaign with Punjab Kings only reinforced that image, with 158 runs coming at a strike rate of 175.56, earning praise from captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting.

Now, with the India-A jersey offering a fresh set of challenges and opportunities, Shedge is keen to keep pushing himself and continue evolving as a cricketer.

Published on Jun 17, 2026