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Yuvraj Singh comes of age

Rakesh Rao

In the past 12 months, he faced difficult times owing to his poor form and injury

NEW DELHI: For someone born at 12 noon, on the 12th day of the 12th month at Sector 12 in Chandigarh, Yuvraj Singh picked up a new reason that should reinforce his belief that 12 indeed is his ‘lucky' number.

The best moment of his career has come in the 12th year in international cricket. ‘The Man of the World Cup tag' could not have come at a better time for the man donning jersey No. 12.

Yuvraj calls 2010 as his worst year. In the past 12 months, this hugely talented cricketer faced difficult times owing to his poor form and injury.

Replaced by Kumar Sangakkara as the skipper of the Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, Yuvraj's poor form and body language made him the target of experts and mediapersons alike.

His struggle to cement his place in the Test team met a dead-end when Suresh Raina went on to fill the spot vacated by Sourav Ganguly.

During the last one-day series against host South Africa, where Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were not available for different reasons, an off-form Yuvraj proved a liability in the middle-order.

Given his vast experience, Yuvraj was still seen as match-winner in the days leading to the World Cup. Though his form did not promise much, Yuvraj's single-minded effort to get back into shape was showing results. Thanks to sustained workouts and power-yoga, Yuvraj was ready to take the load of expectations, which were far less to begin with.

Yuvraj could not have chosen a better stage to prove that the past one testing year, had made him tougher. Gone was the flamboyance and its place was taken by maturity that could not be missed.

Four Match-of-the-match awards came his way. And it was not because he scored heavily. He walked in at difficult situations and changed the course of the game in India's favour. But more important was his contribution with the ball.

Part of a bowling attack, seen as a weak-link in India's armoury, Yuvraj knew his job well. He had spent the last six to eight months working on his bowling with ample guidance from former Test leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani, who is currently among the National selectors.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten had told him that he would be required to bowl 8-10 overs in each game since including a specialist leg-spinner or two off-spinners could affect the balance of the team.

In fact, it was Yuvraj's contribution with the ball, coupled with his ability to finish the match with the bat that made him an obvious choice for the biggest award of his career.

With the worst firmly behind him and the present bringing in the best, Yuvraj is firmly focussed on the challenges ahead. “In future,” said Yuvraj, “there are two things I would like to set right. One, the perception that media has of me. I am not what media has projected me to be. I am a simple guy and say things as I see them. But media thinks otherwise. I understand that sometimes, they do it to add colour to their work.

“The media reads too much into my off the field acts and then becomes unfairly critical of my performance. But I firmly believe that like everyone else, a cricketer has the right to lead life his way and everything about him should not be in public domain.

“Secondly, I am fully aware that my Test career has not been good. But I feel, I still have the time to make amends. Being a regular member of the Indian Test team is important for me.”

On Saturday, the world saw the emotional side of Yuvraj. He shed tears of joy, showed his gratitude to his idol Sachin Tendulkar and carried himself in an appropriate and dignified way. Truly, Yuvraj has come of age.

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