Suryakumar Yadav has linked up with Mumbai Indians in what is sure to come as a boost to Hardik Pandya's misfiring team at IPL 2024.
Suryakumar, one of the pillars of the Mumbai side over the years, has not featured in IPL 2024 so far as he was at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy recovering from the ankle surgery he had earlier this year. It is still unknown if he will be fit for Mumbai's next match, against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium, though he did bat in the nets and train with the others on Friday*.
"Surya came in earlier than the team and spent close to an hour batting in the nets," a Mumbai statement said. "Following his long batting session, Surya did some training and mobility drills followed by catching up with his teammates and speaking with Mark Boucher, head coach, and Kieron Pollard, batting coach, during the course of the practise."
Suryakumar last played a competitive match in December, scoring a 56-ball 100 in the third T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg. He picked up the ankle injury during that match.
Apart from the ankle surgery, he also underwent surgery for a sports hernia in this period. As a result, he was ruled out of India's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan at home, their last T20I assignment before the World Cup in June.
Mumbai have lost their all three matches so far and are at the bottom of the IPL 2024 points table.
* The article was updated at 12.15pm GMT.