Suryakumar Yadav to Play in Buchi Babu Tournament for Mumbai

India’s T20 captain, Suryakumar Yadav, will participate in the Buchi Babu Invitational Cricket Tournament, representing the Mumbai team. Yadav has confirmed his availability and expressed his enthusiasm for playing in the tournament as a preparation for the upcoming domestic season.

Buchi Babu tournament is traditionally a season-starter for domestic teams across the country. Many associations take part to test their bench strength ahead of the forthcoming Ranji Trophy season.

Suryakumar Yadav Joins the Mumbai Squad

Suryakumar Yadav has communicated his intentions to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) selection committee, led by Sanjay Patil, to play in the tournament. Despite his high-profile status, Yadav has always shown commitment to Mumbai cricket. “I will be playing the Buchi Babu tournament. It will give me a good practice session before the domestic season starts. I will join the team after the 25th. I’m always available to play for Mumbai and the club team whenever free,” Yadav told the Indian Express.

Squad Details and Leadership

The MCA had already selected a 17-member squad for the tournament, and Yadav will join them for the Mumbai vs. Jammu & Kashmir game on August 27 in Salem. However, Yadav will not be leading the team. The current captain, Sarfaraz Khan, will continue in his role, following Yadav’s suggestion. A source confirmed, “We had asked Surya, and he suggested that Sarfaraz should continue to lead and that he will play merely as a player.”

Tournament and Future Plans

The Buchi Babu tournament, commencing on August 15, is a traditional season-starter for domestic teams, providing a platform to test bench strength ahead of the Ranji Trophy. With no competitive games for India after the Sri Lanka series, many players are expected to participate in the Duleep Trophy in September.

Yadav’s focus remains on T20 cricket, as indicated by Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of the senior national selection committee. He stated that Yadav is currently being considered only for T20Is and was not picked for the ODI series against Sri Lanka. “At this point, Surya is being seen just as a T20 player, not being considered for ODIs,” Agarkar mentioned.

Yadav’s participation in the Buchi Babu tournament demonstrates his dedication to maintaining form and readiness for future matches while contributing to Mumbai’s cricket success.