• Source:JND
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The India cricket team has suffered a major blow as star batter Suryakumar Yadav will not be available for action for a while due to an ankle injury he picked up in the third T20I match against South Africa earlier this month.

According to a report in Indian Express, scans have revealed that Suryakumar has suffered a grade 2 tear in his ankle and is expected to be out of action for several weeks

India kicked off the South Africa tour with a three-match T20I series where Suryakumar was captaining the Indian side.

 

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The star batter picked up the injury a few moments after scoring a record-equaling 4th T20I century in the third match at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

The unfortunate instance took place when Suryakumar attempted to stop a ball while fielding but ended up twisting his ankle. He looked in immense pain and had to be carried off the field.

However, he talked about the injury to be not that serious in the post-match presentation, mentioning that he was able to walk and felt good.

Suryakumar is expected to regain complete fitness by the start of February next year which means he will not be available for India's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan at home.

"He will take some time to recover. He will have to report to the National Cricket Academy later to do his rehabilitation. He is surely going to miss the Afghanistan series," the Indian Express report quoted a BCCI source as saying.

The injury concerns could leave the Indian team with a lack of options when it comes to the captaincy as the regular captain for the last year Hardik Pandya is also out and injured.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah provided a hint over the possibility of Hardik's return for the Afghanistan series but there is still no guarantee of his return date.

Notably, Suryakumaris not part of India's Test and ODI sides in the South Africa tour and it is quite possible that he might be seen in action in the Indian Premier League 2024.

Suryakumar has been in cricketing action since ODI World Cup 2023 at home where India lost in the final against Australia.

 

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The 33-year-old was then appointed captain of the Indian side for the five-match T20I series at home which the hosts comfortably won 4-1.

The three-match T20I series kicked off the South Africa tour which ended with a result of 1-1.