Duleep Trophy: Fit-again Suryakumar Yadav replaces Sarfaraz Khan in India B playing eleven for final round match

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Duleep Trophy: India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav returned to action after missing the first two round matches of the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024 due to a thumb injury.

Suryakumar Yadav was inducted in the India B playing eleven for their third and last round match against India D in Anantapur. He replaced Sarfaraz Khan, who is in Chennai with the Indian Test team facing Bangladesh in the first Test of the 2-match series.

Suryakumar injured his thumb while fielding in the pre-season Buchi Babu Invitational in Coimbatore. The Mumbai batter is now playing his first red-ball match since his Duleep Trophy in June-July last year.

The 34-year-old, who has played just one Test match for India in February 2023, is hoping for a Test comeback. In August, the right-hander said he was looking forward to India's upcoming Test season which consists of 10 matches in less than four months.

"There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place and even I want to earn that spot again. I made my debut for India in Tests. After that, I got injured as well. There were a lot of people who got an opportunity and have done well too. They deserve that opportunity right now," Suryakumar had said.

"Going forward, if I have to play, then I will automatically play. That's not in my control. What's in my power right now is to play [ongoing tournaments like Buchi Babu and Duleep] and then see what happens. But yes, I'm really looking forward to it. There are ten Test matches lined up [for India this season] and I'm obviously excited for some red-ball fun," he had added.

Suryakumar Yadav was originally part of Ruturaj Gaikwad's India C before losing his place due to injury. He will now be playing for Abhimanyu Easwaran-led India B, who will be up against Shreyas Iyer's India D. An outright win will give India B a good chance to win the Duleep Trophy 2024.