New Delhi: India and Mumbai Indians’ batter, Suryakumar Yadav, failed the fitness test and has not received clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He will miss the initial matches of the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Another fitness assessment is scheduled for Thursday, and only if he passes will he be eligible to participate in the IPL.
With Mumbai Indians slated to play their opening game against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 24, it seems unlikely that Suryakumar will be able to feature in that match.
The 33-year-old cricketer injured his ankle during the tour of South Africa in December 2023. Subsequently, he underwent surgery in Munich, Germany, in January to address the issue.
Speaking at a pre-season press conference held in Mumbai on Monday, Mumbai Indians’ head coach, Mark Boucher, expressed that he is still awaiting updates on Suryakumar Yadav’s fitness from the Indian team management.
“Surya, at the moment, is under the guidance of the Indian cricket team as well. So, we’re just waiting for updates on that. I don’t like to micromanage. We’ve got a world-class medical team that’s in control of all of that. Yes, in the past we’ve been hampered by a few fitness issues,” said Boucher.