'Was sidelined, worked to become better version of myself': Suryakumar Yadav on his comeback

India and Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav on Wednesday revealed that he battled three different injuries in the past three months but worked hard to become a better version of himself while going through a boring recovery processThe world No1 T20 batter who made his comeback last week in IPL 2024 revealed that apart from sports hernia for which he had to undergo a surgery and an ankle problem he also endured an injury to his right kneeI had twothree niggles together sports hernia ankle and then right knee I had to take one step at a time follow the small things and here I am really happy to be on the ground Yadav said in a video released by IPLThe 33yearold said it was boring for him to follow the same routine during rehab work at the start but he decided to make the most of the opportunityIts actually a little difficult to describe the last three or threeandahalf months It was difficult the first twothree weeks because I felt it was very boring doing the same things again and again in the rehab he saidBut by the fourthfifth week I realised that it is important going forwardA conversation with his wife was helpful in giving him perspectiveWhen I spoke to my wife and all the people at NCA they said it has to be a second version of yourself you have to be a little different when you come back on the field I started doing all those small things like sleeping on time following a good diet that was most important he addedYadav said time away from the game helped him focus on aspects he had neglected and that helped him recover fasterI had never read a book in my life and I started doing that as well Getting up in the morning spending a good quality time at the rehab centre and focusing on everything connecting myself my brain and my body with the rehab and it helped me really well to recover a little faster he saidI wanted to be a better version of myself when I got injured I realised what were the things I wanted to work on I got 23 months to work on myself in terms of fitness and on my body as well he saidAlso ReadIn the grip of IPL feverSKY lauded the coaches and staff at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for understanding and supporting him in his recovery phase even when he did not like the grindI am really grateful to the support staff at NCA everyone right from trainers to physios who took care of me right from the morning They took everything whatever I said A few days I was feeling angry to do the rehab but then they took that in their stride and understood really well how I wanted to work he saidYadav who had faced trouble clearing his fitness tests at NCA at the initial stage of IPL 2024 said he never felt he was not around the Mumbai Indians teamMy whole cricketing journey started from here and when I entered the hotel and the ground it never felt like that I had left this place he saidThe first day when I did my practice session with the boys and everyone around it felt that I was here since the IPL startedHowever Yadav admitted he could not watch IPL matches since he followed a strict routineIt is always difficult when your team is playing and you are sitting in the room and watching I cannot say that I did not watch the games I watched half of the games as I was sleeping on time when I was in Bangalore at about 1030pm1045pm he saidIt was difficult but at the same time it gave me a lot of motivation and inspiration that yes they are playing there and I have to work really hard on myself and my recovery and get there as soon as possible he addedWith agency inputs