
India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, is eyeing a return to Test cricket. The 33-year-old will represent Mumbai in the upcoming Buchi Babu Tournament in Tamil Nadu.
Sources suggest that selectors and team management are considering him as a potential all-format player.
Suryakumar has confirmed to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) his availability for the Buchi Babu Tournament, leading to his inclusion in Mumbai’s squad.
Suryakumar Yadav set to audition for red-ball cricket in upcoming domestic tournaments
Suryakumar Yadav has also secured a spot in one of the squads for the Duleep Trophy 2024, in addition to participating in the Buchi Babu Tournament. The Duleep Trophy begins on September 5 and will feature prominent international players such as Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Following his tenure as India’s full-time T20I captain, Suryakumar has shown a keen interest in returning to Test cricket. His selection for the Duleep Trophy indicates that the selectors are considering him for the upcoming Test series.
Suryakumar will be part of Team C in the Duleep Trophy 2024, captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad. India is scheduled to play five home Tests before their tour of Australia in November 2024. Two of these home Tests will be against Bangladesh, while the remaining three will be against New Zealand.
Suryakumar Yadav’s recent record
Suryakumar Yadav has played just one Test match to date, which was against Australia in Nagpur last year. In that game, he managed only 8 runs in India’s single innings. Since then, he has not been selected for Test cricket.
The past few months have been significant for Suryakumar Yadav. He played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, delivering standout performances both with the bat and in the field.
Following the retirement of Rohit Sharma from T20Is, Suryakumar was named India’s full-time T20I captain. In his debut series as captain, he excelled, both as a batsman and a leader, leading India to a 3-0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka.
Shreyas Iyer also aiming for a Test comeback
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has also made himself available for the Buchi Babu Tournament. A key player in India’s ODI squad, much like Suryakumar is for T20Is, Iyer was previously part of the Test team but was dropped during the home series against England earlier this year due to a dip in form. He will be looking to make a strong comeback and secure his spot in the Test squad.
Sarfaraz Khan, another Indian batter, is set to participate in the Buchi Babu Tournament. Appointed as Mumbai’s captain, Sarfaraz will lead a talented Mumbai side. At 26, he is eager to score heavily in the tournament to strengthen his case for selection in India’s upcoming home Tests. Sarfaraz is also named in the Duleep Trophy, where he will represent Team B.
Having played in India’s last three Tests, Sarfaraz has accumulated 200 runs at an average of 50. Despite his solid performances, his place is uncertain due to the potential return of KL Rahul. However, strong performances in both the Buchi Babu Tournament and the Duleep Trophy could enhance his chances for selection in the upcoming home series.