Mumbai Indians star batter Suryakumar Yadav is yet to receive a clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to participate in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). On March 19 (Tuesday), the No.1 ranked T20I batter Suryakumar failed his first fitness test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and is set to miss at least the opening match for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL. The second fitness test for Suryakumar Yadav is scheduled for March 21 (Thursday).
With Suryakumar slated to miss time, let's take a look at two batters who can replace the explosive batter in Mumbai Indians' playing XI.
Nehal Wadhera
23-year-old Nehal Wadhera made a name for himself in the previous season of the IPL. Rohit Sharma even touted Wadhera to achieve great things in his career and represent India in the future. Talking about Wadhera, the left-handed batter is known for his ability to strike a long ball. In the last season, he played a couple of impactful knocks in the IPL and displayed the ability to finish the innings.
Wadhera played 14 matches in the previous season of the cash-rich tournament. The southpaw scored 241 runs at a strike rate of 145.18. He registered two half-centuries while smashing 23 fours and 13 sixes in the competition.
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Talking about Wadhera's T20 career, the 23-year-old 416 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 151.82 with the help of four half-centuries.
Thus, Wadhera will probably be the first choice when it comes to Suryakumar's replacement in the playing XI.
Vishnu Vinod
30-year-old Vishnu Vinod has been around the Indian cricket circuit for a while now. But for some strange reasons, the right-handed batter hasn't been able to make a name for himself. He first played in the IPL in 2017 and then missed the next five seasons before featuring in the cash-rich tournament in 2023.
He played just three matches for Mumbai Indians last season and scored 37 runs. In one of his knocks, which was 31 runs, Vinod displayed his explosive batting skills by tonking two sixes and as many fours. His T20 numbers are promising, to say the least. In 57 innings, Vinod has scored 1,591 runs at a strike rate of 142.69. He also has a T20 century to his name along with eight half-centuries.
Mumbai Indians might look to give Vinod the chance to express himself in Suryakumar's absence.
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