Mumbai boy Suryakumar Yadav has been quite an achiever in first-class cricket and in the Indian Premier League for over a decade—5,326 first-class runs from 77 games and 2,341 in 115 IPL matches. The year 2021 saw the attacking batsman earn his India cap and did reasonably well to score 124 in three ODIs and 244 in 11 T20I games. Suryakumar, 31, was also part of India’s Test squad during the England tour and recent home series against New Zealand without making it to the playing XI.

Former Test opener and Suryakumar’s first Ranji Trophy skipper, Wasim Jaffer feels the new year is crucial for the right-hander to make his mark in international cricket. His first-class debut against Delhi at the Roshanara Club Ground in the capital eventuated in 73 runs in the first innings during December 2010. He played only one game in 2010-11, but was Mumbai’s top run-getter (754) the following season in 2011-12 Mumbai lost to Tamil Nadu in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium.