SMAT 2024: Suryakumar Yadav to join Mumbai for remainder of tournament

India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav is gearing up to make his entry into the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, for the Mumbai team. After missing the initial league matches due to personal reasons, the star player is set to join his home team for their crucial match against Services in Hyderabad.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), which had originally announced a 17-member squad without Suryakumar, has now added the star Indian T20I skipper to their lineup. Yadav also played one game in the first leg of the Ranji Trophy against Maharashtra and scored seven runs in the first innings.

According to TOI, the star batter has been added to Mumbai's squad for the upcoming fixture on Tuesday, December 03. However, it is likely that the Indian skipper may play under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title in the 2024 edition of the cash-rich tournament.

Meanwhile, the 34-year-old is coming off leading India in a 3-1 series victory against South Africa. While he managed just 26 runs across three innings in the recent South African series, his presence will be invaluable for the side.

Originally expected to miss the opening matches, Suryakumar is now set to rejoin the squad in early December. His inclusion has been made at a crucial time, with the team looking to strengthen their position in the tournament and make a strong push towards the playoffs.

His most notable contribution was a selfless decision to step down from his preferred No. 3 batting position, making way for young talent Tilak Varma, who subsequently smashed back-to-back centuries. He also played a crucial role in boosting the confidence of players like Sanju Samson, who went on to score two centuries in the four-match T20I series.

Also Read: Who is Salman Nizar? – All you need to know about Kerala batter who smashed 99* against Mumbai in SMAT 2024

Mumbai high on confidence with two wins

Furthermore, Mumbai, who are competing in Group E of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, have had a mixed run so far. The team has secured two victories, a commanding 26-run win against Goa and a five-wicket victory over Maharashtra, while suffering a 43-run defeat against Kerala.