JOIN USYuvi eager to chase dreams
Returning to training after a successful battle with cancer was as nervy as it was exciting for Yuvraj Singh. The star cricketer is determined to return where he belongs and finds Twenty20 format ideal to make a comeback to international cricket.
The selectors are also hoping his return by the World T20 but the 30-year-old batsman made it clear that he will be there only if he is fully fit and had a few Twenty20 matches under his belt.
“I would like to play Twenty20 format first, or maybe the 50 overs. I want to play all the formats but Twenty20 would be an ideal start. It would be a huge achievement if I get to play for India again,” said Yuvraj.
“It feels good to know the selectors want me back. I should be able to make it but I’ll come back only if I’m 100 per cent fit. I know I’m recovering well. Twenty20 World Cup will be a realistic target but it is important for me to play cricket before that. The Twenty20 games against New Zealand would be ideal.”
Yuvraj admitted feeling a sense of achievement on the first day of training after his illness though not without mental conflicts.
“It was amazing to get back on the field after what I’ve gone through. Training was a huge achievement and a stepping stone towards my comeback. To have initial ‘nets’ was very special for me; I was so anxious and nervous; my first sprint was amazing. Going from wheelchair to a cricket field was a great feeling,” he said.
“My body was a bit shaky, it was a mental battle. As a cricketer, some of the instincts are natural but I need time. The bat was coming from somewhere else but feet were moving, the hand-eye co-ordination was the same.
“Every muscle was hurting, the body was broken, but I know it would all come back slowly. I was getting scared of the leather ball but this anxiety has to go away. I’ve to be confident when I get on to the field.”
Yuvraj, who on Saturday launched "YouWeCan" -- an initiative by Yuvraj Singh Foundation to spread awareness about cancer detection, said his recovery period made him a better person and he wishes to make a difference in the lives of those suffering from the same illness.
“I met many cancer patients and felt bad for them. Now I know what it is and I make an extra effort to hold their hand, make them understand that they have to fight it out. More than eight lakh people die (every year) of cancer in India because they are not tested properly.
“I, too, have changed for a better person. I had lost the taste for food. I value every meal and I am also breathing with both lungs now. I am more disciplined and organised. I now look to make a difference to the society, difference to someone’s life,” said Yuvraj, who was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the Arjuna award on Saturday.
He said he is now eager to chase his dreams. “I used to watch my good knocks on video until Anil (Kumble) came and stopped it. He said I’ve to first get better and then think of cricket. I stopped watching cricket for some time and I’m happy to be in the right frame of mind now to chase my dreams.”