Mandeep Singh expects to be match fit before India A’s South Africa tour

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab batsman Mandeep Singh, recently came up to state that he hopes to be 100% fit ahead of India A’s tour to South Africa. Singh is currently doing the hard yards at NCA, Bangalore to regain full match fitness. The bilateral ODI series is scheduled to commence from 26th July.

Initially, the Manish Pandey-led side was scheduled to play a triangular tournament, featuring South Africa and Australia. The Australians pulled out of the tournament due to the payment disputes amongst the players association and the Cricket Board. If he receives the green signal for fitness, he would certainly board the flight to South Africa.

Mandeep, who had a lukewarm IPL10 along with Royal Challengers Bangalore, experienced a back pain towards the end of the match. He preferred to avoid his surgery and instead opted to regain fitness at the NCA.

Mandeep optimistic about boarding the flight to South Africa

“It has been six weeks at the NCA. India team physiotherapist Patrick Farhat felt surgery could be avoided and the back could be treated with rest and strengthening. When the India ‘A’ team was to be announced, Andrew Leipus saw improvement in my condition and gave the selectors the go ahead for my selection. He feels I will regain fitness in time” commented Mandeep Singh according to Hindustan Times.

“The word surgery rang alarm bells. I was already upset with the IPL performance and the niggling pain in the back made me more upset. I never felt so low in my career. I underwent a mid-career crisis in a way. When I came to the NCA, I was told the back could be treated with rest and strengthening. Knowing this, my motivation came back,” said the Punjab batsman.

He concluded by remaining optimistic about his chances to feature in the lineup for India ‘A’. “I can feel improvement and have started running. If I clear the test and be match fit, it would be wonderful to go with the India ‘A’ team,” concluded the RCB batsman.