Debutant Suryansh Shedge says wearing India jersey is a dream come true

Indian cricketer Suryansh Shedge, who debuted in T20 internationals against Ireland, recalled being inspired by India’s 2011 World Cup win. He spoke about his emotional journey to the national team, his admiration for teammate Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fearless batting, guidance from Arshdeep Singh, and his close bond with captain Shreyas Iyer.

Hyderabad: Suryansh Shedge, who made his debut for India in the T20 internationals against Ireland last week, said that the first time he really cried watching cricket was when India won the 2011 World Cup.  

“That night, watching the Indian team lift the trophy, something changed inside me. I knew that this is what I want to do, represent my country on the biggest stage. From that day, I started working towards that dream,” Suryansh said on the JioStar TV show. 

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“I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was ready to give it everything. When I received the Indian jersey and wore it for the first time, I can’t describe that feeling. All those early mornings, the hard work, the sacrifices, it all felt worth it. I have worked for this since childhood. Wearing that jersey is not just a dream come true; it’s the start of a new journey,” he said. 

On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Suryansh said: “His mentality is incredible. He genuinely enjoys batting and never overcomplicates things. He has such a strong belief in his ability that even if he gets out for a duck, he doesn’t let it affect him. He backs himself to score a hundred off 30 balls in the next game.” 

“That kind of self-belief is rare. He doesn’t carry any baggage from the previous ball or the previous match. He lives in the moment and plays with complete freedom. That is what makes him so dangerous. He is the perfect example of being instinctive and playing without fear,” the India all-rounder said.

On getting a call from Arshdeep Singh after his selection in the Indian team was confirmed, Suyansh said: “When my selection was confirmed, I received a video call from Arshdeep paaji. He congratulated me and shared his own experience of getting selected. I spoke to him for a while. It was a very emotional moment. It was really hard to process. Even now, it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. It still feels like a dream.” 

On his bond with India captain Shreyas Iyer, Suyansh said: “I talk a lot with Shreyas Iyer bhai. We spend a lot of time together off the field as well. We are constantly talking about cricket, about batting, bowling, match situations, and how to handle pressure. During the IPL season, we watch other games together and discuss what we would do in those situations. Those conversations are always healthy and keep going. It helps me learn a lot from his experience.”