INDIAN CRICKET
Suryakumar is expected to lead India in the Asia Cup. © Getty
Suryakumar Yadav is currently at the National Cricket Academy – or rather, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) – as he aims to be fit in time for the Asia Cup. The India T20I skipper recently reported to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) facility in Bengaluru for rehabilitation and fitness assessments.
That was the prime reason the West Zone selectors left him out of their 15-member Duleep Trophy squad for which Shardul Thakur was named captain. The squad, picked recently, features several Mumbai stalwarts, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, and Tushar Deshpande but not Suryakumar.
At the time of selection, the West Zone selectors had inquired about his availability, and Suryakumar is understood to have informed them that he had checked into the CoE. The rehab process is evidently a follow-up to the hernia surgery he underwent in Munich, which he had publicly announced in June.
“Underwent surgery for a sports hernia in the lower right abdomen. Grateful to share that after a smooth surgery, I ‘m already on the road to recovery. Can’t wait to be back (sic),” he wrote in a social media post on June 26.
Suryakumar’s next major assignment is the Asia Cup in the UAE, scheduled from September 9 to 28. The dynamic T20 batter is expected to lead India in the tournament. According to Mumbai Cricket Association officials, he is confident of regaining full fitness in time for the event. He was last seen in action during the IPL, representing the Mumbai Indians side.
Shreyas Iyer visits NCA
Meanwhile, it has been learned that Shreyas Iyer visited the CoE last week for fitness tests. He has since returned to Mumbai, and it is understood that the visit was for routine assessments. He is reportedly fit and ready for action. He should feature in the Duleep Trophy, unless he is selected for the Asia Cup.
Iyer was last seen in the IPL final, leading the Punjab Kings franchise. After a highly successful IPL season, there was considerable speculation about his inclusion in the Indian Test squad for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but the expected call-up did not materialize.
The four-day Duleep Trophy matches begin on August 28 in Bengaluru, but the West Zone side – having been directly seeded into the semifinals – will play their first match from September 4.
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