Suryakumar Yadav to captain Mumbai in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after injured Shreyas Iyer pulls out

Suryakumar Yadav to captain Mumbai in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after injured Shreyas Iyer pulls out
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav

Ace batsman Suryakumar Yadav has been announced by Mumbai as their skipper for the upcoming 2020/2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The 30-year-old batsman has been one of the most consistent performers in both the domestic circuit for Mumbai and for the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has made a case for a potential call-up to the national team a plethora of times, but the call-up has never arrived.

Despite his selection heartbreaks, Yadav has gone about his cricket with great aplomb. In the 2020 IPL, he was well and truly on song, scoring 480 runs in 16 matches averaging exactly 40. His consistent knocks at No. 3 played a crucial role in MI’s title win. Now, for the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, he has been rewarded for his performances with the responsibility of captaincy in the absence of regular captain Shreyas Iyer.

Injured Shreyas Iyer to miss Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy

Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer during the Australia tour

Mumbai’s regular captain Shreyas Iyer is currently receiving treatment for a shoulder injury and it is understood that he informed the Maharashtra Cricket Association that he would not be available. According to sources, it is believed that Iyer might return for the knockout matches but the probability of that happening is very low. “Iyer’s clinical assessment will be done at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore on December 27. Thereafter, we will get an idea whether he will be available for the Syed Mushtaq Ali knockouts, which are scheduled to begin from January 26,” a source in the BCCI said, according to The Times of India.

Suryakumar Yadav will be aided by deputy and vice-captain Aditya Tare. Other big names and promising stars in the squad that has been announced include Shivam Dube, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Siddhesh Lad and Tushar Deshpande. Meanwhile, son of cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar, Arjun Tendulkar just days after being hit for 21 runs in an over by skipper Suryakumar Yadav in a practice match, missed out on making the cut.

Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav knocks on selectors’ doors by slamming 47-ball 120; also hits Arjun Tendulkar for 21 runs in an over