MUMBAI: India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Shivam Dube will play two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for Mumbai in January.“Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had told all the India players who took part in the recently held T20I series against South Africa that they have to play two matches in VHT. Suryakumar and Dube will turn out for Mumbai in VHT in their matches on January 6 and 8,” a source tracking developments told TOI.
India’s next T20I series will begin on January 21 against New Zealand at home.Meanwhile, former India captain Rohit Sharma, who will play the first two matches of VHT, is reaching Jaipur on Monday night, along with Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur, who became a father on Sunday. Both will take part in Mumbai’s practice session on Tuesday.Mumbai underwent an optional practice session on Monday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium and will play their league stage matches in Jaipur starting from December 24.They will launch their campaign against Sikkim on Wednesday.Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was hospitalised in Pune after suffering from acute gastroenteritis after Mumbai’s last match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, too will turn out for Mumbai in the domestic One-Day tournament at some stage.“Yashasvi is feeling much better now. He will play in VHT at some stage for sure,” a source tracking developments told TOI.With no international cricket scheduled till January 11, when the three-match home ODI series against New Zealand kicks off, India’s top cricketers will be available to play in VHT.Rahane to rest from VHT’s initial matchesMeanwhile, it’s learnt that former India and Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane has asked to be rested from the first two matches of VHT. “He has got a hamstring issue and will rest and recover. He will be available for the second leg of the Ranji Trophy,” a source added.
