JOIN USAfter smashing a sparkling 123 for India ‘A’ against West Indies ‘A’ on Sunday, Yuvraj Singh said he was happy to get a hundred in the first match of the season.
Excerpts from his media interaction:
On getting a century: It’s always amazing to get a hundred. It’s the first game of my season, and everything fell in place. I’d worked quite hard in the off-season. I’ve been working on my batting and skills in the last couple of weeks. I just wanted to take some time at the start and attack when I needed to. It’s a very good feeling.
On his partnerships with Mandeep and Yusuf: Once a batsman batting with you is set, it allows you to take a bit of time in the middle. It was a fresh wicket, and it was doing a bit in the first couple of overs. Mandy dominating at that time really helped me take my time and get settled in. It allowed me and Yusuf to cash in at the end.
On his motivation to come back: I think my passion for the game. I’m too passionate about my game. In the IPL I had a back injury and I was struggling with it. I just wanted to work hard on my fitness. I was focused on training, and was focused on where I had my weaknesses, on my lung capacity, my diet, in my off-season with Zak (Zaheer Khan).
Tim Exeter, whom we trained with, has done wonders for me and Zak in terms of getting back.
On the effect of his century: I always had the belief that when I’m feeling well from inside, I’m going to do well. It’s taken a lot of time, because the body has gone through a lot. You just can’t go through such a disease and come back and say ‘okay, I’m going to be 100 per cent.’
It’s taken a lot of time for my body to heal. And it’s just getting better and better, with every off-season I’ve spent. I’m just happy with the way I hit the ball today and hopefully I can carry on this form in the coming months.