File photo of Suryakumar Yadav© BCCI
Mumbai Indians will soon get the much-needed batting boost as world No. 1 T20 batsman Suryakumar Yadav has cleared almost all the fitness tests at the National Cricket Academy and is very close to playing his first IPL match of the season. Suryakumar had undergone multiple surgeries – one for grade 2 ankle tear and one for sports hernia – and he last played in the T20 series in South Africa. “Surya has cleared all but one of the routine tests required to obtain the RTP (Return To Play) certificate from the NCA. One more test is to be conducted on Thursday after which a clearer picture would emerge,” it said a senior BCCI source. told PTI on condition of anonymity.
“He is batting comfortably and has done all the simulations,” he added.
When asked if Suryakumar can play Mumbai Indians’ April 7 home game against Delhi Capitals, the source said, “The clearer picture will emerge after tomorrow’s Tests. There are three days left for the next match but since it is a comeback after a long time it could also be April 11 at home against RCB.” The swashbuckling batsman has been MI’s most productive player in the last four to five seasons and his absence at the playing XI was felt by the team that has lost the first three games of this season.
His replacement Naman Dhir, the Punjab player, is yet to measure up and beleaguered skipper Hardik Pandya would certainly need ‘Mr 360 degree’ to stem the rot.
As far as the BCCI’s medical team is concerned, the clear mandate was to ensure that India’s top T20 batsman is fully fit for the T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies, and also to ensure that there is no premature failures occur during the IPL.
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