There's something special about the moment a young cricketer hears praise from a legend they've grown up watching. For Mumbai and Punjab Kings allrounder Suryansh Shedge, that moment came from none other than Rohit Sharma.

After Shedge's explosive batting helped Mumbai clinch the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the former India captain made sure to seek him out. "Rohit bhai told me, 'Are Shedge, kya batting keli re. Ki Sagle Baghat Hoto Tikde Ekatra' (What terrific batting you did, we were all watching it!)," Shedge recalled with a smile.

Those quickfire cameos were nothing short of spectacular. Batting at No. 6, Shedge smashed 36 not out off just 15 balls in the final against Madhya Pradesh, followed by 36 not out off 12 balls in the quarterfinal against Baroda, and a blistering 30 off 8 balls against Andhra in the last league match. It was the kind of form that makes any franchise sit up and take notice.

But the 23-year-old knows that cricket is as much about the mind as it is about the bat and ball. "When you're in the presence of greats, you can learn a lot even in a five-minute conversation," Shedge said. "When someone who has won tournaments for their country stands in front of you and speaks about cricket, you know you have to be a good listener."

And he's been listening closely. Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer have both had heart-to-heart conversations with the young allrounder, focusing on preparation and staying present in the moment. He's also receiving guidance from Jatin Paranjape on embracing the current moment rather than worrying about results.

The IPL 2025 season hasn't gone as planned for Shedge, who managed just seven runs in five matches at an average of 2.33. Bought by Punjab Kings for his base price of Rs 30 lakhs in the November 2024 auction, he spent the first eight matches on the bench. But every cricketer knows that form is temporary, and class is permanent.

Now, with Punjab Kings set to play their next three home games in Dharamshala starting Monday, Shedge has the perfect opportunity to channel that same energy and confidence that earned him praise from one of the game's greatest. After all, when you've heard "kya batting keli re" from Rohit Sharma, you know you have it in you to do it again.