'When someone attacks you...': Suryansh Shedge reveals Hardik Pandya's golden advice before 4-fer vs Australia A arste

Mumbai all-rounder Suryansh Shedge is one of the few pace-bowling all-rounders the Indian selectors are looking at as Hardik Pandya’s successor. Pandya is yet to recover full fitness and was ruled out of the One-Day series between India A and Australia which commenced on October 7 in Puducherry. Shedge was named his replacement and made his mark with a four-wicket haul. While he couldn’t do much with the bat and Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A faced a heavy 125-run defeat, Shedge revealed that the injury setback he faced was a blessing in disguise as he got to meet Pandya at Centre of Excellence (CoE), Bengaluru. Pandya told him to master his stock delivery which he can fall back on if a batter decides to attack him.

“I took the injury as a blessing in disguise because it was just the start of the season. I got that time off to get more clarity, get fitter and come back as a better cricketer,” Shedge told Sportstar.

“Master your stock ball. That will be your USP. When someone is attacking you, you can always fall back on that. If that gets mentally set in your mind, you’ll find it easier.”

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Shedge’s dismissals in 2nd List A 4-fer

Shedge was introduced into the attack as a first-change bowler. He conceded 11 runs including a boundary each off Nathan McSweeney and Liam Scott's bat. In his third over, Shedge got the better of new batter Nikhil Chaudhary. He bowled a back of the length delivery and the leading edge went to backward point fielder Anukul Roy.

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Shedge was brought back into the attack after Will Sutherland smashed left-arm spinner Roy for three consecutive sixes in the 39th over. Shedge broke the sixth-wicket partnership between Sutherland and McSweeney. He knocked over Australia A skipper Sutherland who played down the wrong line. He departed after a 68-ball 77. In the next over, Shedge struck off consecutive deliveries.

Shedge came round the wicket to left-handed batter Todd Murphy. He managed to get a faint edge off the bat and wicketkeeper Prabhsimran Singh took a regulation catch. On the next ball, Shedge pitched it fuller to Spencer Johnson. This time, it was a thick edge and Prabhsimran had to dive to take the catch.

Despite McSweeney's 123-run knock, Australia A were bowled out for 274. Shedge conceded 40 runs from his seven overs and took four wickets. It is the 23-year-old's second four-wicket haul of his List A career.

Shedge departs for single-digit score

Shedge was slotted to bat at no.7. He came to bat when India A had lost half the side for 105 runs in 22.2 overs. He could not provide support to set batter Rajat Patidar. He became young pacer Mahli Beardman's fourth victim of the evening. The slower back of a length delivery got the better of him. He wanted to hit it over long on but ended up getting caught by Riley Meredith. He scored just three runs from four deliveries.

After the match, Shedge revealed that he made the length adjustment after his first over. He looks to master the back of the length delivery.

“After the first over, I realised that the ball is coming on nicely at full length or conventional good length. So I used the scrambled seam a lot and tried to hit the deck, which gave me a lot of positives,” the 23-year-old said.

“If I can master that length, it will always give me an upper hand against batters.”

Will Shedge get picked for New Zealand ODIs?

The Indian selectors have seemed to identify three pace-bowling all-rounders for the role. Nitish Kumar Reddy is ahead of others. He even opened the bowling against West Indies in the ODI series opener. While he registered two three-fers against Afghanistan, he went for plenty of runs in the recently concluded ODI series against Shai Hope-led West Indies. In the first ODI, he took one wicket for 45 runs from five overs in Thiruvanathapuram and remained wicketless. He was rested for second ODI. In the third ODI, he conceded 50 runs from 6.5 overs. Reddy has managed to add pace but he has been unimpressive in the ODIs, taking just three wickets at an average of 91.33. His economy rate is 7.40 runs per over.

T20I specialist Shivam Dube finds himself in reckoning too. Dube made his ODI return in England series after Shedge was ruled out due to injury. He took one wicket for 27 runs from six overs in ODI series opener. In the second ODI, he took one wicket for 32 runs in six overs.

Shedge is yet to make his ODI debut. But, he has 15 wickets from 16 ODIs at an average of 24.40 featuring two four-fers. He hasn't been consistent with the bat in the format, scoring 261 runs at an average just over 20 and strike rate of 101.55. His maiden List A fifty for India A came in the One-Day tri series on Sri Lanka soil.

India’s search for a Hardik Pandya backup is crucial. India would need a pace-bowling all-rounder who can use the pace-friendly conditions in South Africa and contribute down the order. India ODI skipper Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir have often emphasised on the need to have a pace-bowling all-rounder. Harshit Rana was also seen as an option to fulfil the role but his injury has led to a setback. The team management seem to be open to trying the likes of Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj for the role as well.

How Shedge performed in debut T20I series?

Shedge made his T20I debut in Ireland. He has played a T20I each against Ireland, England and Zimbabwe. He did not get to bat against Zimbabwe and registered single-digit scores on UK tour. He is yet to take a wicket in T20Is. His economy rate is on the higher side at 11.28 runs per over.