On most evenings, after the noise of the game fades and the dressing room empties out, Suryansh Shedge reaches for a notebook.

There is no elaborate ritual. No motivational quotes. No grand declarations.

He simply writes — a lesson from the day, a mistake worth remembering.

For a cricketer trying to navigate the unforgiving pathways of Indian cricket, journaling has become a way of staying grounded.

“After I go back to the hotel, I’ll analyse what I did correctly and what I did wrong, and then it goes away,” Shedge told The Hindu.

That ability to let go is important for a player whose career has accelerated rapidly in recent years.

Not too long ago, Shedge was another youngster fighting for opportunities in Mumbai cricket, a system where talent is abundant and competition relentless. Strong domestic performances earned him an IPL contract with Punjab Kings, where he found himself sharing the dressing room with stars such as Shreyas Iyer and learning under Australian great Ricky Ponting.

Today, he is part of the India-A set-up in Sri Lanka, carrying the same mindset that has shaped his rise. “I just want to contribute in all departments,” he said. “I am not thinking about anything apart from the game that is happening. If I start thinking about things that are not in my control, I won’t grow.”

The philosophy sounds simple, but it has been forged in one of the toughest cricketing ecosystems in the country. “After a certain level, skill-wise everyone is similar,” Shedge said. “What gives you the edge is mental toughness and situational awareness.”

The IPL reinforced that belief. He recalls Shreyas’ words before the Kings defended a modest total against Kolkata Knight Riders last season. “He just said, ‘I can feel it, we are going to win this game.’ And we did.”

For Shedge, confidence comes from preparation. His coaches, Monty Desai and Jatin Paranjpe, have repeatedly driven home the same message: everything he wants to become is already within him.

The notebook helps him access it. “If I keep things in my head and don’t write them down, they just keep running in my mind,” he said.