IPL 2024: Suryakumar Yadav shares how rehab helped him grow

Over the past three months, Suryakumar Yadav has been fully committed to his rehabilitation process, which has not only helped him recover from his injuries but has also allowed him to develop as both a person and an athlete.

Suryakumar had to deal with multiple injuries including a sports hernia, an ankle injury, and knee pain, which required him to undergo surgery and extensive recovery at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. During this time, he focused on retraining both his body and mind to pay attention to the smaller details that are crucial for his performance on the field.

“It’s a little difficult to describe the last three months…”

Suryakumar told the official IPL website, “It has helped me grow as a person and athlete. For the first two-three weeks. I felt very bored doing the same thing during rehab. From the fourth and fifth week onwards, I realised it is important going forward. It was important to decide how I wanted to come back.”

His rehabilitation regimen included sticking to a strict schedule, maintaining a healthy diet, ensuring adequate rest for his body, and engaging in activities such as reading, which he hadn’t done much before. Despite facing setbacks with injuries, Suryakumar remained dedicated to his recovery process.

“When I spoke to my wife, all the people at NCA, they said it has to be the second version of yourself,” Suryakumar said. “You have to be a little different when you come back on the field. I started doing small things, like sleeping on time, following a good diet.

“I’d never read a book in my life, but I started doing that as well. Getting up in the morning, spending good quality time at the rehab centre, focusing on everything, connecting myself, my brain and body with the rehab, it helped me really well to recover faster because I had two-three niggles together.”

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He shares his experience and feeling

“It’s always difficult sitting and watching when your team is playing,” he said. “I watched half the games, because I was sleeping on time, by 10-10.30. I used to watch only half the innings. Of course, I’d watch the whole game next day.

“It was difficult, but it gave me a lot go motivation and inspiration looking at them that they’re playing there, and I have to work hard on my recovery to get there as soon as possible.”

“I felt like I was here since the IPL started,” he said. “I always wanted to be a better version of myself. During the injury I realised the things I needed to work on. I had two-three months to work on my fitness and body. There were times I’d feel angry, but thanks to the physios and trainers – they understood how I wanted to work.”

Now, as he prepares to return to the cricket field for the Mumbai team, Suryakumar is determined to make an impact and help his side bounce back from their initial losses in the tournament. Although he faced disappointment while watching his team struggle from the sidelines, he is now eager and ready to contribute to their success. His upcoming match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium will mark his second game back from injury, and he’s motivated to make it count.