Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya has decided to name the world’s No. 1 T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav, on the impact substitute list instead of playing XI in the MI vs RCB match. Having won just one match, being positioned 8th on the points table, and still not including your best batter from the past few seasons is a questionable decision. But what has led Hardik to make such a move?
Suryakumar Yadav: Fitness issue or the Romario Shepherd effect?
Following his mind-blowing inning against the Delhi Capitals, it isn’t shocking that Romario Shepherd has featured in the Mumbai Indians playing XI. But was that move made at the expense of Surya?
One has to remember that SKY played his first match in nearly four months on April 7. Having been recently cleared from the NCA, that move could have been made keeping his fitness in mind. It also suggests that the 360-degree batter may not take the field in the first inning.
Coming from an ankle injury, the Mumbai Indians and Hardik Pandya might be saving Surya from severely injuring himself once again. With at least nine matches still left, it is a wise decision to shield your best batter for the coming games instead of risking an injury that could rule him out of the entire season.
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Mumbai Indians Playing XI
Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (w), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Shreyas Gopal, Jasprit Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee, Akash Madhwal
Impact Substitutes: Suryakumar Yadav, Dewald Brevis, Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera, Harvik Desai