Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India’s T20I cricket team, is not ready to give up on Test cricket just yet. Despite having played only one Test match so far, Yadav is keen to make a comeback in the longer format by participating in the Buchi Babu All-India Invitational Tournament in Tamil Nadu. His commitment to red-ball cricket comes at a crucial time as he aims to regain his place in the Test squad.
Aiming for All Formats
Yadav has informed the Mumbai selectors of his availability for the second half of the first-class competition, which runs until the end of August. He will be playing under the leadership of Sarfaraz Khan, as he requested the selectors to maintain the current captaincy. “I want to play for India in all three formats,” Yadav stated, emphasizing his desire to contribute to the national team across all formats of the game.
The Buchi Babu tournament, which begins on August 15, will provide Yadav with valuable practice ahead of the upcoming red-ball tournaments. He is expected to feature in Mumbai’s match against Jammu and Kashmir starting August 27 in Salem. This opportunity is vital for Yadav as he looks to showcase his skills and push for a Test recall.
Recent Success in T20 Format
Recently, Yadav led India to a remarkable 3-0 series victory over Sri Lanka, marking his first tour as the full-time T20I captain. His leadership has been praised, but he has faced challenges in other formats. He was not selected for the three-match ODI series, with selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar stating that Yadav is not currently part of their ODI plans.
With no T20I matches scheduled for India until the series against Bangladesh in October, Yadav has a significant opportunity to focus on red-ball cricket. The Buchi Babu tournament will serve as a stepping stone, followed by the Duleep Trophy, which features teams selected by national selectors.
Suryakumar Yadav’s last first-class appearance was in the Duleep Trophy in July 2023. Over his career, he has played 82 first-class matches, scoring 5,628 runs at an impressive average of 43.62, including 29 fifties and 14 centuries. His experience and talent make him a valuable asset for Mumbai as they aim for success in the upcoming tournaments.
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