Suryakumar Yadav’s Instagram story couldn’t have been more apt. Clad in whites with the Mumbai Cricket Association crest glittering under the evening sun, Surya called it, “Back to the roots.”
For the next four months when India are lined up to play 10 Tests, Surya’s intentions are pretty clear. “I want to earn a place in that Test squad,” he states.
Since making his debut against Australia at Nagpur in 2023, the 33-year-old hasn’t been part of the Test set-up. And ahead of the Sri Lanka series, even chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had said they are looking at him as a T20 player as he wasn’t even included in the ODI squad. But with new head coach Gautam Gambhir keeping the door open for Surya’s return to the Test fold, the batsman’s comeback trial will begin in Coimbatore on Tuesday, when Mumbai are scheduled to face TNCA XI in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament.
“There are a lot of players who have worked hard to earn their place in the Test squad. Even I want to earn a place in that Test squad. After I made my debut for India in Tests, I got injured. A lot of players who got opportunities have done well. Those are the players who deserve the opportunity right now. Going forward, if I have to play, that is not in my control. What is in my control right now is to play this tournament (Buchi Babu), go on to play the Duleep Trophy and then we will see what happens,” says Surya after a three-hour practice session on Monday.
Surya knows he is waiting in a queue. Apart from the returning Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, there are two of his Mumbai teammates – Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan, here with him in Coimbatore – who are vying for a spot in the middle order. The next three weeks, when Surya is set to play a minimum of three Duleep Trophy matches, will reveal whether he moves up the pecking order or has to depend on the Ranji Trophy that follows soon after.
Surya knows he is waiting in a queue. Apart from the returning Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, there are two of his Mumbai teammates – Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan, here with him in Coimbatore – who are vying for a spot in the middle order. (PTI/File)
He has a lot of groundwork to do. It has been 13 months since Surya featured in a multi-day fixture. On Sunday as he linked up with the Mumbai squad here, he straightaway hit the nets. As he took guard and played out a few deliveries, it even prompted one of the net bowlers to wonder aloud, “Ena da pirichu edupar nu patha, porumaya adrar. Nan kooda bayanthute potean (I was expecting him to tear me apart… was scared to even bowl, but he is being gentle).”
Playing within himself
Surya would subsequently bring out his trademark sweeps, but most of the time, he just focused on middling the deliveries and playing close to the body.
“This format is a little challenging. You have to be one step ahead. You cannot bat like you do in a T20I match. But at the same time, intent is very important, including the body language you carry on to the ground. The thinking part of what needs to be done has to be done during the practice sessions. You cannot go to the game and think too much. What is in your control are the practice sessions and what you do until the start of the game. If you do well, stay humble. If you do not do well, go back to the basics and drawing board, start and come back again,” Surya said.
In his lone Test innings, Surya looked a bit expansive with his shots. But the conditions in Nagpur had prompted him to go for quick runs. Even in last year’s Duleep Trophy, there was a bit of urgency in his batting, as he seemed to be in a bit of a rush. However, in the past, Surya has shown that he can bat in lower gears as well, and construct an innings. It is a side of his game that isn’t spoken often.
In 82 first-class matches, he averages 43.62 with a strike rate of 63.74 and has 14 centuries, a clear vindication of going through the grind.
“When I grew up playing in the maidans of Mumbai and played local cricket, I started playing red ball. The love for red-ball cricket started from there. It has always been there. I have played a lot of first-class cricket, for close to 10 years. I made my Mumbai debut in 2010 (red ball) and played until at least 2020. This format has been close to my heart and I have always enjoyed playing it. That is why I am here ahead of the Duleep Trophy. I am fortunate to get this opportunity.”
It really seems so. It’s now up to Surya to grab an opportunity that has come out of nowhere, just like he did on the boundary in the T20 World Cup in Barbados.
