India’s T20 World Cup and Asia Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav has reportedly been left out of the Mumbai squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season, adding another setback to his recent career.
Yadav’s return to first-class cricket had attracted attention after the Mumbai Cricket Association contacted him regarding his availability for red-ball cricket. The 36-year-old batter reportedly confirmed that he was available for the tournament.
However, despite his availability, Yadav was not included in Mumbai’s 16-member squad for their opening Ranji Trophy match against Chandigarh at Wankhede Stadium on October 11.
According to Indian media reports, Mumbai Cricket Association officials had approached Yadav about playing red-ball cricket, following which he made himself available for the tournament.
Mumbai chief selector Rajesh Pawar, however, said Yadav needs match practice before returning to the first-class setup because he has not played red-ball cricket for around 18 months.
Yadav featured in three matches and five innings during the previous Ranji Trophy season, scoring 109 runs, including two half-centuries.
Mumbai will be led by Siddhesh Lad, while Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre has been named vice-captain. India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal is also part of the squad.
A return to the Ranji Trophy would have been particularly important for Yadav at this stage of his career. He has already lost the captaincy of India’s T20I side, leaving the Indian Premier League as his only regular competitive format.
The decision to leave him out of Mumbai’s squad therefore adds another twist to a period in which the veteran batter has seen his role in Indian cricket significantly reduced.