Suryakumar Yadav out till February with Grade-II ankle tear

In a major blow for India, star batter Suryakumar Yadav has been ruled out due to a Grade-II ankle tear. The 33-year-old will be out for seven weeks or until February 2024. As per reports, the batter had scans done on his ankle after he twisted it while fielding in the third T20I against South Africa. 

His injury means that he will not be available for the Men in Blue for their three-T20I series against Afghanistan at home starting January 11. After taking some time to recover, the 33-year-old will be at the NCA, where he will look to make his way back into the side.

“He will take some time to recover. He will have to report to the National Cricket Academy later to do his rehabilitation. He is surely going to miss the Afghanistan series,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

The ace batter was handed Indian captaincy in T20Is due to Hardik Pandya’s absence as he is out injured as well. As things stand, both Pandya and Suryakumar are set to miss out, with the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) looking for a different skipper to lead India against Afghanistan.

India shift focus on Tests after ODI series triumph

As for team India, the side is currently in South Africa, taking on the Proteas in the multi-format series. Both sides faced off in a three-game T20I series, which was tied, but the Men in Blue quickly bounced back and put in brilliant performances to win the ODI series. 

Led by KL Rahul, India won the first and third ODIs of the series in dominant fashion. Furthermore, with the white-ball duties finished, the visitors will be keen on shifting their focus to the upcoming two-game Test series.

Both India and South Africa take on each other in the first Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on December 26, and having won the ODI series, India will look for similar performances in the longest format as well.