Mumbai Indians’ head coach, Mark Boucher, addressed concerns over Suryakumar Yadav’s fitness ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, highlighting that the franchise awaits updates from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Despite facing ongoing fitness challenges, Boucher expressed confidence in the capabilities of MI’s medical team while acknowledging the potential impact of fitness-related setbacks on the team’s roster.

“We are awaiting updates on Suryakumar from the BCCI. We have always been under a cloud of fitness issues but we have a world-class medical team. We may lose one or two in terms of fitness but we have to move on as is sport,” remarked Mark Boucher during MI’s pre-IPL 2024 press conference.

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Suryakumar Yadav’s IPL participation hangs in the balance due to a sports hernia injury, sidelining the explosive batter since December last year and casting uncertainty over his availability for the early stages of the tournament.

Despite sharing updates on his Strength and Conditioning (S&C) routines on Instagram, Suryakumar Yadav is yet to showcase his batting form, leaving fans and the franchise eager for his return. His absence from the DY Patil T20 Cup, alongside the return of Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan, further underscored the gravity of his injury.

As the linchpin of India’s T20 squad, Suryakumar’s stellar record, boasting a strike rate of over 171 and 2,141 runs in 60 games, emphasizes his pivotal role. With four T20I centuries to his name, his contribution will be crucial for India’s aspirations in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies, following his standout performances against Australia post the ODI World Cup.

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For Mumbai Indians, Suryakumar Yadav’s availability is paramount for a successful campaign, especially as they kickstart their season against Gujarat Titans on March 24, two days after the IPL 2024 opener. With the tournament fast approaching, the race against time intensifies for the world’s leading T20I batter, underscoring the urgency surrounding his recovery and return to action.