Suman moves to Pune Warriors

Hyderabad batsman Tirumalsetti Suman will turn up for the Pune Warriors India in the Indian Premier League’s sixth edition that is scheduled to get underway on April 3.

Suman signed the deal late on Friday, the last day of the transfer window, as the Mumbai Indians agreed to release the opening batsman to the Pune side.

Ironically, Suman’s first game will be on his home turf as PWI are scheduled to open their IPL-6 campaign against the Sunrisers in a night game in Hyderabad on April 5.

It is learnt that Sunrisers coach Tom Moody was keen on signing Suman but could not get his viewpoint past the team’s mentors, who are eyeing G. H. Vihari, the Hyderabad batsman who was part of India’s U-19 World Cup winning side last year.

To play under the captaincy of Yuvraj Singh, Man of the Series in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph is a special feeling

Of late, Suman has been finding it difficult to break into the Mumbai Indians playing XI — he played just two games in IPL-5, a huge cut from the eight he got in IPL-4 in the two seasons he turned up for them.

“At Pune, I am likely to get more chances to play,” Suman told this newspaper on Saturday.

“To play under the captaincy of Yuvraj Singh, Man of the Series in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph is a special feeling,” he said.

“PWI is a fantastic franchise with a superb set of players. I am looking forward to the new assignment,” Suman added.

The reception for Suman has been warm. “Deep Dasgupta, former Indian wicketkeeper, who is PWI’s cricket operations manager, spoke to me over the phone and expressed pleasure in having me on the team. It felt good,” Suman said.