The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : I want to reclaim Test place: Yuvraj

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

I want to reclaim Test place: Yuvraj

By S. Dinakar

CHENNAI, DEC. 13. It was only in April this year that Yuvraj Singh raised his willow in triumph on a sun-lit afternoon in Lahore. Seconds earlier he had reached his maiden Test hundred on a seaming, green first day pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium. In adversity, India had found a hero.

Seven months hence, India's Test campaign in Bangladesh is on and Yuvraj finds himself in a domestic first class contest before empty stands. He smiles wryly at the irony and the change of fortunes.

"You play in front of 50,000 people and then you play in front of 50 people. Yes, it is difficult. But you got to motivate yourself and tell yourself that every game is different," Yuvraj told The Hindu, during the lunch break on the opening day of the Punjab-Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

On Sunday, he celebrated his 23rd birthday in a quiet fashion with family and friends in New Delhi. One of his goals for the coming days is "I want to be in the Test side again."

A natural who relishes the big stage, Yuvraj has been undone by a bizarre sequence of events following a victorious but demanding tour of Pakistan, where he notched up 230 in three Tests at 57.50, apart from being brilliant on the field.

Opening woes

He was just settling down in the Indian middle-order when he was told to open the innings in the second Test against the formidable Australians in Chennai. Yuvraj was consumed early by Shane Warne in the first innings, and remained unbeaten in the second innings before rain washed out the final day's play at Chepauk.

The aggressive southpaw maintains that he did not err by agreeing to walk in at the top of the order. "If you were asked to open you should be given a few games. It should not be that you are given only one game and stopped after that. It was a bit unfair," he said. In Yuvraj's case, it was just one completed innings as opener.

He was left out of the final eleven at Nagpur, dropped from the squad for the final Test in Mumbai, and found his name omitted from the Test team to Bangladesh. Yuvraj dwells on an unfortunate turn of events but remains positive. "Of course, I am disappointed. But I cannot do much about it. I have proven myself in Test cricket and I will do so again. What's gone is gone. I have to look ahead."

Brave approach

Agony was writ large on his face when he pounded the turf during his evening runs in Nagpur's Vidarbha Cricket Association ground. Yuvraj admits to feeling miserable then. "There was much pain. But you get these ups and downs in life and sports. The important thing is that you have to take them in your stride."

His mother Shabnam has been a source of inspiration to the cricketer during this testing period. "She told me this was just a bad phase. She has always been there for me." He also remembers India captain Sourav Ganguly's encouraging words: "He said, `don't worry, you will be back again.'"

He is looking the `Test' challenge in the eye. Yuvraj Singh wants to re-live that glorious day at the Gaddafi Stadium. Given his ability, it is possible.

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