Suryakumar Yadav determined to earn the Test spot again

India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, is eager to return to Test cricket, though he knows it won't be an easy journey. Despite his recent focus on white-ball cricket, Suryakumar is determined to re-establish himself in the longer format of the game.

Suryakumar, who made his Test debut last year against Australia in Nagpur, faces stiff competition for a spot in the Test side. With players like Sarfaraz Khan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Rajat Patidar ahead of him, Suryakumar understands the challenge. 

"There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place and even I want to earn that spot again," Suryakumar said.

After making his Test debut, Suryakumar was sidelined by an injury, allowing others to step up and make their mark. Now fully recovered, he is focused on performing well in domestic tournaments like the Buchi Babu Invitational and the Duleep Trophy to prove his worth.

"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.," he 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 the Buchi Babu tournament, go on to play the Duleep Trophy and then see what happens. But yes, I'm really looking forward. There are ten Test matches lined up and I'm obviously excited for some red-ball fun," he further added.

Moreover, he hasn't played first-class cricket since the Duleep Trophy last year due to a groin surgery that kept him out for three months. During his recovery, he remained active in India's ODI and T20 World Cup campaigns and was later named the full-time T20I captain.

Suryakumar's love for red-ball cricket runs deep. Growing up in Mumbai, he started playing with the red ball in local cricket, and that passion has stayed with him throughout his career. 

"Red-ball cricket has always been my priority. When I grew up in the maidans of Mumbai and played a lot of local cricket, I started playing with the red cherry. The love for the longest format began there, and has always been there.

"I have taken part in a lot of first-class matches for more than ten years now and I still cherish playing this format. There's no question about it and that's why I'm here before the Duleep Trophy.

"I will always look for an opportunity to come and play for Mumbai, be it in first-class cricket or a tournament like the Buchi Babu. A lot of international players have played in this competition before and have gone on to represent the country," Suryakumar said.

India is set to play ten Tests in the next four months, starting with a series against Bangladesh. For Suryakumar, this is a golden opportunity to push for a Test recall. However, he knows that to achieve this, he needs to deliver strong performances in the domestic circuit.