GT vs MI IPL 2024 Match 5: Why is Suryakumar Yadav not playing today?

Mumbai Indians’ (MI) star batter, Suryakumar Yadav, is set to miss the team’s season opener against Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2024.

GT vs MI IPL 2024 Match 5: Why is Suryakumar Yadav not playing today?

The reason Suryakumar Yadav is not playing today’s GT vs MI IPL 2024 Match 5 is an ongoing ankle injury. Despite no definitive update on his condition, Yadav’s absence from the match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 24, seems inevitable. The 33-year-old sustained the injury during the third T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg, where he showcased his batting prowess with a century. Since then, he has undergone two surgeries, one for his ankle and another for a sports hernia, which has kept him out of action.

Following his remarkable century in the T20I against South Africa, which helped India level the series, Yadav was sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained during the same match. The injury necessitated two surgeries, compelling him to miss subsequent fixtures, including the home T20I series against Afghanistan in January.

Despite Mumbai Indians’ head coach, Mark Boucher, refraining from providing a clear update on Yadav’s injury, it is evident that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is overseeing his rehabilitation. Boucher emphasized the trust in the medical team’s expertise, acknowledging the challenges posed by fitness issues common among IPL franchises.

Yadav’s absence from the two warm-up matches further affirmed his unavailability for the season opener against GT. However, the 33-year-old remains determined to return to action, as indicated by his social media posts from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where he continues his rehabilitation efforts.

While MI fans await Yadav’s comeback eagerly, his absence presents an opportunity for the team to explore alternative combinations in their quest for a successful IPL 2024 campaign.