Suryakumar Yadav fit to return for final round of Duleep Trophy 2024
Team India star Suryakumar Yadav is back to full fitness and has been cleared by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to play in the third and final round of the 2024 Duleep Trophy. Suryakumar had been withdrawn from India C squad before the opening round of the tournament as a precautionary measure due to a thumb injury.
The swashbuckling batter faced discomfort in holding the bat after copping a blow on his right thumb during fielding at the Buchi Babu Invitational in Coimbatore.
Suryakumar will now replace Sarfaraz Khan, who is part of the Indian squad for the first Bangladesh Test, in the India B squad. Led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, India B will take on the Shreyas Iyer-led India D in the final round, starting in Anantapur on September 19.
The 34-year-old was last seen in action in an official game in the T20Is during India's white-ball tour of Sri Lanka at the end of July. It was Suryakumar's first assignment as India's T20I captain and he started on a positive note as the side completed a 3-0 whitewash.
Meanwhile, India B won their first outing of the 2024 Duleep Trophy against India A before a drawn game against India C.
"There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place and even I want to earn that spot again" - Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav expressed his desire to reclaim a spot in the Indian Test side before the start of the domestic season.
Despite his stellar first-class record and rise to fame in white-ball cricket, Suryakumar has played only the lone Test for India against Australia in the opening game of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
He scored only eight runs in India's innings victory and hasn't featured in the long format for India.
"There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place and even I want to earn that spot again. "I made my debut for India in Tests. After that, I got injured as well. There were a lot of people who got an opportunity and have done well too. They deserve that opportunity right now," said Suryakumar as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
He added:
"Going forward, if I have to play, then I will automatically play. That's not in my control. There are ten Test matches lined up [for India this season] and I'm obviously excited for some red-ball fun."
Suryakumar Yadav will likely be in action for India next during their T20I series following the Tests against Bangladesh, starting October 6.