PBKS could give India the next Hardik Pandya in IPL 2025

Punjab Kings may have landed a steal deal after signing Suryansh Shedge for just Rs 30 lakhs. The Mumbai all-rounder has been in the form of his life recently and could turn out to be a most-valuable player for the franchise. While he has never played in IPL previously, his sizzling form warrants a spot for him in PBKS’ playing XI. Shreyas Iyer & co. will kick-start their campaign by taking on GT on Tuesday.

Why PBKS need Shedge in playing XI

Captain Shreyas Iyer witnessed Shedge’s prowess from close quarters, having played alongside him in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. The all-rounder scored 131 runs from 9 matches while playing as a finisher for Mumbai. With a highest score of 36 not out, Shedge averaged 43.66 in the tournament and boasted of a strike rate of 251.92.

Shedge is a genuine all-rounder and can contribute with the ball too. In the SMAT 2024 tourney, he picked up 8 wickets from 9 matches. In fact, he also contributed effectively in Mumbai’s title win in the season.

Where can Shedge fit in PBKS’ XI?

Although inexperienced, Shedge’s form could be capitalized on by PBKS in IPL 2025. He can easily replace the experienced Nehal Wadhera in the playing XI. A rising star, Shedge is en route to becoming India’s next Hardik Pandya by becoming a prolific all-rounder. Reiterating once again, Iyer can make a wise decision simply because he has captained Shedge previosuly and has witnessed his prowess first-hand. PBKS shouldn’t make the same mistake that LSG did in IPL 2024 where they kept Suryansh benched the whole season.

Punjab Kings Squad for IPL 2025

Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey