Suryakumar Yadav is set to don the white jersey for Mumbai as he readies himself for their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match against Haryana. The captain of India's T20I team shared a photograph of himself fully equipped in the nets, wearing a Mumbai shirt. In his caption, he expressed, “Saphedi ka chamkar (the shine of white)” in Hindi.

Among those who responded to his post was his India teammate Axar Patel, who remarked, "Ab maza aayega na." Suryakumar's last appearance in long-format cricket was during a Ranji Trophy group match for Mumbai against Maharashtra, where he batted once and scored a mere seven runs, although Mumbai secured victory by nine wickets. He made his first-class debut for Mumbai back in 2010 and has since participated in 84 first-class matches, accumulating 5,656 runs at an average of 42.84, including 14 centuries and 29 half-centuries.

Suryakumar's Aspirations in Test Cricket  

Recognized as one of the premier T20 batsmen globally, Suryakumar has surprisingly faced challenges in other formats of international cricket. He remains outside the selection for ODIs, despite his role as captain of the Indian T20I team. Additionally, he has played only one Test match in his career and has voiced his ambition to return to this format prior to the commencement of the current domestic season.

“There are numerous players who have diligently worked to secure their positions in the Test squad," he stated, as reported by the Indian Express. "I, too, aspire to earn a spot in that Test squad. After my Test debut for India, I suffered an injury. Many players who were given opportunities have excelled, and they are the ones deserving of the current chances.

"Looking ahead, whether I play is beyond my control. What I can manage at this moment is to participate in this tournament (Buchi Babu), proceed to the Duleep Trophy, and then we will see what unfolds,” Suryakumar remarked. His return to the Ranji Trophy shortly after leading India in the fifth T20I against England indicates that he continues to nurture aspirations of joining the Test squad.

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