Suryakumar Yadav, who missed the first round of Duleep Trophy 2024 matches due to a hand injury, is set to return for the tournament's second round. Surya hurt his right thumb while fielding in the Buchi Babu Invitational event versus TNCA XI on day three. As a precaution, he did not bat in the second innings.
"The BCCI Medical Team is continuing to assess his injury, and a further evaluation next week will determine his availability for the second round," the BCCI said in an official press release.
Suryakumar was expected to play for India C in the opening round of the Duleep Trophy against India D in Anantapur, however, an injury kept him out of the match. He was sent to the NCA, where the medical team closely monitored his condition.
However, according to a report from the Hindustan Times, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical staff and Surya himself are happy with his recovery from injury.
"Surya's recovery is going well. He is almost 100 percent and he knows it,” a BCCI source said.
Surya was present at the Chinnaswamy Stadium throughout the India A vs India B match. On Sunday, he spoke with a handful of his India colleagues for quite some time and appeared to be in a good mood. Notably, the BCCI had not named any replacements for Surya in the India C squad.
Surya is expected to play in the latter half of the Duleep Trophy, but whether he will do so in the second round, which begins on Thursday (September 12), is unclear. If Surya plays India C's next match against India B, it will be his first red-ball appearance in almost 14 months.
A good performance in the Duleep Trophy might reignite Suryakumar Yadav’s Test career. A T20I all-time great, Surya hasn’t translated that form and success in ODIs and Tests. He made his Test debut last year against Australia at home, an injury ruled him out of the series after just one Test.
Meanwhile, the Duleep Trophy squads will see a host of changes as India squad members for the Bangladesh Test, barring Sarfaraz Khan, will head to Chennai to take part in the preparatory camp starting September 12.
(Hindustan Times inputs)
