Suryakumar Yadav could still be in the reckoning for the Indian Test team. The 360-batter has made a name for himself in the shortest format, but that doesn’t mean that he’s stopped his red-ball aspirations. After missing the first two matches of the Duleep Trophy 2024, the T20I captain has returned to play the final match for India B against India D.
Aged 34, Suryakumar still has the desire to play another Test match for India. Having been at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for the last couple of weeks, he made his way from Bengaluru to Anantapur to feature in the 4-day game. Suryakumar could have skipped it and straightway played the 3-match T20I series against Bangladesh in early October.
He’d stated the same in August. “Red-ball cricket has always been my priority. When I grew up in the maidans of Mumbai and played a lot of local cricket, I started playing with the red cherry. The love for the longest format began there and has always been there. I’ve taken part in a lot of first-class matches for more than 10 years now, and I still cherish playing this format.”
With the India vs New Zealand Tests coming up in October-November, Suryakumar might be eyeing returning to the Indian middle order again. There are others like Devdutt Padikkal and Sarfaraz Khan already waiting, and it won’t be easy. But that’s not what Suryakumar is thinking of right now. His goal is to work hard and then leave everything for the selectors.
“What’s in my power right now is to play the Buchi Babu tournament, go on to play Duleep Trophy, and then see what happens. But yes, I’m really looking forward. There are 10 Test matches lined up, and I’m obviously excited for some red-ball fun,” Suryakumar said in the same interview with the Hindu.
Suryakumar Yadav’s first-class record
| Mat | Inns | Runs | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 137 | 5628 | 43.62 | 63.74 | 14 | 29 |
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