Following Punjab Kings' match against Gujarat Titans on 3 May 2026, a lighthearted moment between co-owner Preity Zinta and young batter Suryansh Shedge went viral. Zinta, known for her enthusiastic celebrations, approached Shedge to congratulate him on his explosive 24-ball half-century. As she stepped forward for a hug, the 23-year-old took a step back, gesturing toward his jersey. Having just finished a "lone fight" in oppressive humidity, he was visibly drenched in sweat and reportedly told her he was "too messy" for a hug. Brushing aside his concerns, Zinta hugged him anyway, laughing off the sweat. Fans on social media praised her "no-ego" attitude, noting that she treated the young debutant like a proud older sister.
Shedge’s half-century against the Titans is being referred to as a ‘lone-fight’ because despite stepping on after 5 wickets had fallen, Shedge maintained his calm and went on to bash a half century against bowlers like Mohammad Siraj and Kagiso Rabada. Shedge’s half-century led the team total to 163 which gave the Kings a good total to defend in the second innings of the game.
Preity Zinta congratulated Suryansh Shegde, gave him a hug, and shook his hand. Suryansh said, “I’m sweaty my clothes are dirty. You shouldn’t Hug Me Preity replied, “It’s okay,” still hugged him, and then wiped her hands on her clothes 😂 pic.twitter.com/06pm1kxdvd
— AurelionCricket (@CricketAurelion) May 4, 2026
Suryansh Shedge’s maiden half-century at Narendra Modi Stadium
On 3 May 2026, Suryansh Shedge delivered a career-defining performance for Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad against the Gujarat Titans (GT). Entering the crease with his team in deep crisis at 47/5, the 23-year-old right-hander played a "lone fight" to drag PBKS to a competitive total of 163/9. Shedge smashed 57 runs off 29 balls with a strike rate of 196.55. He reached his maiden IPL half-century in just 24 balls. He shared a vital 79-run stand with Marcus Stoinis who scored 40 runs which remains the second-highest 6th-wicket partnership for PBKS.
The standout moment of the innings occurred in the 14th over, where Shedge completely shifted the momentum by hammering GT spinner Manav Suthar for 27 runs (6, 6, 4, 4, 6, 1). His aggressive play single-handedly revived the innings after a disastrous start where PBKS lost two wickets in the very first over to Mohammed Siraj. Despite his efforts, Gujarat Titans eventually chased the target in a last-ball thriller. However, Shedge's innings was widely hailed as an "arrival on the big stage," earning him a warm, viral embrace from owner Preity Zinta despite his sweat-drenched state.
