NEW DELHI: T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has cleared his fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru ahead of the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel’s meeting to finalise India’s Asia Cup squad.
The dynamic batter, who was named Player of the Series in the IPL, had undergone surgery for a sports hernia in the lower-right abdomen in Munich, Germany, in June.
“Fitness tests are mandatory before Return to Play (RTP) post-surgery. Surya has cleared the fitness test,” a BCCI source told reporters.
After his surgery, Yadav shared an update on Instagram, saying: “Life Update: Underwent surgery for a sports hernia in the lower-right abdomen. Grateful to share that after a smooth surgery, I’m already on the road to recovery. Can’t wait to be back.”
With his fitness restored, the stylish batter is now set to attend the selection committee meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday.
The Asia Cup will be held in the UAE from September 9-28. India will open their campaign against the hosts on September 10, with the marquee clash against arch-rivals Pakistan scheduled for September 14, both matches in Dubai.
Yadav, 34, enjoyed a stellar IPL season, amassing 717 runs and becoming only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to score over 600 runs in a single season for Mumbai Indians. He finished just behind Orange Cap winner Sai Sudharsan (759 runs) of Gujarat Titans and played a key role in MI’s playoff run, helping them defeat Gujarat in the Eliminator before losing to Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2.
He also featured for Triumph Knights Mumbai North East in the T20 Mumbai League, scoring 122 runs in five innings, although it remains unclear if the hernia caused any discomfort during this period.
Suryakumar has previously undergone ankle surgery in 2023, in addition to the recent sports hernia operation.
