Middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to be available for Mumbai Indians’ (MI) IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals (DC) on March 27.

According to a PTI report, Suryakumar might not recover from a hairline fracture on his thumb. He had picked up the injury during the T20I series against the West Indies last month.

One of the four players retained, Suryakumar is currently nursing his injury at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

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“Surya is currently at the NCA doing his rehabilitation. He is well on his way to recovery but there is a possibility that his participation in the opening game will be a real touch and go affair,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

“So there could be a possibility that he might be advised by the board’s medical team to not risk playing the opener,” he added.

In the last few seasons, Suryakumar Yadav has emerged as one of MI’s top performers and there is no way that the franchise would take any risk as they have a larger picture to look at.

Mumbai Indians’ second game is against the Rajasthan Royals on April 2 and it is learnt that Suryakumar will be good to go by then.

“I think by the second MI game, he would be 100 per cent match fit. It is likely to be more of a precautionary measure if he doesn’t play the first game,” the source added.

Suryakumar Yadav Yadav was in terrific touch during the three-T20I series against the West Indies, registering scores of 34*, 8, 65 and earning the ‘Player of the Series’ award.

(With PTI inputs)