Star batter Suryakumar Yadav is back in action after recovering from injury and has joined his IPL franchise, the Mumbai Indians (MI).
The 33-year-old, currently ranked number one in T20I batting, missed the initial stages of IPL 2024 due to an ankle surgery following the South Africa series in December last year.
A cautious approach to recovery
The BCCI ensured a thorough recovery process for SKY. “He is fit now,” a BCCI source told the Indian Express. “The NCA made him play a few practice games and he looked good. We wanted to be sure that he’s 100% ready before rejoining MI.” This included three separate fitness tests to guarantee Yadav’s well-being before returning to competitive cricket.
Double recovery and potential debut on Sunday
Yadav had also undergone surgery for a sports hernia, leading to his absence from India’s recent T20I series against Afghanistan. He is expected to be included in MI’s playing XI for their upcoming match against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday (April 7) at the Wankhede Stadium.
Boost for struggling MI
Suryakumar’s return is a welcome sign for MI, who have started the season poorly under new captain Hardik Pandya. The team has lost all three matches so far and sits at the bottom of the points table. Yadav’s explosive batting and experience could be the spark they need to turn things around.