As the 17th edition of the IPL gears up for its grand opening on March 22, all eyes are naturally turning towards the formidable five-time champions, the Mumbai Indians. Led by the versatile all-rounder Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai squad is gearing up to deliver top-notch performances in the upcoming season.
However, as the excitement mounts for the new season, Mumbai Indians find themselves facing a significant hurdle. Star Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav’s participation in the initial matches of the season hangs in the balance due to injury concerns. Yadav, undoubtedly one of Mumbai Indians’ key players, has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury during the T20I series against South Africa in December 2023.
Suryakumar Yadav failed to pass the fitness test on Tuesday. He will have another fitness test on Thursday and if he passes, then only he can feature in the IPL: Sources close to NCA pic.twitter.com/FOD4sDWpwi
— IANS (@ians_india) March 19, 2024
Suryakumar Yadav recently underwent a sports hernia operation, further complicating his return to the field. Recent reports indicate that Yadav is unlikely to feature in Mumbai Indians’ opening game against the Gujarat Titans on March 24.
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Additionally, he is expected to miss the team’s practice matches scheduled for March 18 and 20, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his availability. Speculations regarding Yadav’s absence gained traction after he shared a heartbreak emoji on his Instagram story, hinting at his disappointment.
Reflecting on Mumbai Indians’ performance in the previous season, the team displayed commendable resilience but fell short in the knockout stages, ultimately finishing fourth in the standings. Their journey came to an end after a defeat to the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2.
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As they gear up for the opening clash against the Titans in the upcoming season, Mumbai Indians are poised for redemption. The showdown is set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 24, with both teams eager to kick-start their campaign on a winning note.
