Strong performances in domestic cricket eventually earned him an IPL opportunity, where he found himself sharing a dressing room with established stars and learning from some of the sharpest minds in the game.<\/p>\n
Today, the all-rounder is wearing India-A colours, carrying forward the same mindset that has fuelled his rise \u2014 embracing pressure, trusting preparation and staying rooted in the present.<\/p>\n
Fresh from helping India-A bounce back in the Tri-Nation tournament, Shedge spoke about the influence of Mumbai cricket, his time with the Punjab Kings, lessons from Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting, dealing with setbacks, and why journalling has become an important part of his routine.<\/p>\n
Tours like the ones with India-A are closely watched by selectors. Have you set any targets for yourself?<\/b><\/p>\n
I wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019ve set targets for myself. I just want to contribute in all the departments. You are representing your country after all, so it\u2019s a really proud feeling for me to wear those colours and play for my country. And whenever I step on the field, I just try to make the most of it and contribute in whichever way I can.<\/p>\n
I am not thinking about anything apart from the game that is happening. That\u2019s how I want to approach it. That\u2019s how I want to grow in cricket because if I start thinking about things that are not in my control, I won\u2019t grow. So every day when I step on the field, I try to make the most of it.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve been an integral part of Mumbai\u2019s white-ball setup and have also proved yourself in the IPL. What are some of the biggest learnings that have helped you grow?<\/b><\/p>\n
After you reach a certain level, it\u2019s got to do a lot with the mental aspect of the sport because I feel, skill-wise, everyone will be the same. What gives you the edge is your mental toughness and situational awareness. So, that\u2019s what I\u2019ve tried to work on.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve put myself in different situations while practising, even in match scenarios. I\u2019ve done match simulations. At the end of the day, it helps when you step on the field and play a tournament.<\/p>\n
Cricket teaches you patience. It has taught me a lot. It has taught me everything I know today. I just enjoy playing the sport, and I\u2019m happy as soon as I step onto the field. I want to get better every day, so that\u2019s how I approach it.<\/p>\n
The IPL has given you exposure to some of the best players and coaches in the game. Have there been any lessons or conversations that have stayed with you?<\/b><\/p>\n
Actually, when you play cricket in Mumbai, there\u2019s always pressure because there\u2019s a lot of talent. So, I think that\u2019s how I\u2019ve been brought up, and I like playing under pressure. I think it brings out the best in me. So, I\u2019ve always thrived in it.<\/p>\n
READ: Women\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026: Shreyanka Patil injures ankle during India vs Netherlands, stretchered off field<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Having such senior players in the IPL setup and coaches who have won major tournaments for their countries is humbling, and it is a really proud feeling at the same time. I tried to pick their brains almost every practice session or whenever I could.<\/p>\n It is all about mentality at the end of the day. If you have the attitude of winning from any situation, you will have a working brain and you will know what to do. You should be courageous and back yourself at the end of the day.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure you have seen that in Shreyas (Iyer)\u00a0 bhai<\/i>\u00a0as well, and you have seen that in our coach Ricky (Ponting) sir. I have learned from them. I remember one instance from last year\u2019s IPL, where we were playing a game against KKR. It was a home game, and we had scored 111 or 115. It was a low-scoring game. While we were stepping on the field, he just said one thing: \u201cI can feel it that we are going to win this game.\u201d And we won that game by 15 runs.<\/p>\n That is the kind of mentality I have been around, and it creeps into you. I think when you have match-winners on your side, their attitude and their vibes get into you, and then you try to simulate the same.<\/p>\n I want to learn every day. I want to keep learning. Obviously, sharing the dressing room with these players is a matter of pride for me.<\/p>\n Competition in Mumbai cricket and Indian cricket is relentless. As a youngster, how do you deal with setbacks and the uncertainty that comes with the game?<\/b><\/p>\n In hindsight, when I look at my career till now, it\u2019s not a very long one; it\u2019s a short career. But obviously, I have grown up playing cricket. So, it teaches you a lot.<\/p>\n It teaches you patience. It teaches you how to deal with adversities. One thing it has taught me is that everything won\u2019t go in your favour all the time. Things won\u2019t pan out exactly as you want them to.<\/p>\n But it is important for you to learn and grow and change because the only thing that is constant in life is change. That\u2019s what I try to do. Because if I don\u2019t work on myself, if I don\u2019t move with the times, I will be left behind.<\/p>\n Obviously, when you want to play a higher level of cricket, that pressure is there in the back of your mind. But if you let that control you, you won\u2019t be able to focus on what\u2019s important. If I give my best here, if I prove myself, if I win games for my team and get my team out of tough situations, everything else will happen eventually. That\u2019s what I try to focus on.<\/p>\n The Afghanistan-A win came less than 48 hours after the disappointment against Sri Lanka-A. After everything that happened in the previous game, how did the team regroup and bounce back?<\/b><\/p>\n As people say, cricket is a great leveller. Every day is a new day. If we win three games on the trot, we can lose the next three. If we lose three games, we can win six after that.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what cricket is. We only had to come up with better plans, and we did that. Even in that game, from the situation we came back from, only strong teams and strong-minded people can do it. That was a huge positive for us because we came back from a situation where it looked like we wouldn\u2019t even score 200 runs and then we went on to score 265. We were just short of the finish line.<\/p>\n Every day we make a few changes and come back as better individuals. In turn, we come back as a better team.<\/p>\n