The world of cricket seems to be an amazing place. It makes the lives of some players while breaking the lives of others. The story of this star begins with the setback of his father and how his father trained him to be the champ he is……
Debut of Yuvraj Singh in Domestic Cricket: –
The year 1986 a strong Sikh right-arm pacer is sacked from the Indian team. The name “YOGRAJ SINGH”. But this was just the silence before a storm. Yograj was training an absolute beast. A storm was going to hit the cricket community in the year 1999. Cut to 1999, people of India begin to murmur a name. “Yuvraj Singh”. Not just a player but an absolute king. Just hold on for a second and remember how in “MS DHONI: THE UNTOLD STORY” (The movie) his influence was explained. He was intimidating opponents just by sheer presence. After absolutely making a mockery of domestic bowlers and scoring 357 in the Cooch Bihar trophy game it was certain that he was made for the big stage.
Yuvraj Singh International Debut: –
Yuvraj was rewarded and debuted in the year 2000. I wasn’t born back then but people say Yuvi was the face of young India back then. He was certainly a gun standing at point. His fielding while at the peak is compared to some of the greats as Jonty and Collingwood. In the year 2002 came his time to show the world who he is. The big NatWest trophy final at Lords. India needs 320 odd runs to win and with 5 wickets down England started to believe. They believed but so did Yuvi. What’s next, Yuvi with his U-19 captain Kaif to his aid plays a match-changing knock of “69” runs. They get India home to a victory. The world realizes that a king is born.
Yuvraj Singh Six Sixes in an Over: –
Next in is 2007. The setting, the T-20 world cup. And all of you readers know what’s coming. ‘Oh, how foolish of Freddy Flintoff to come in and murmur “Those were F***ing ridiculous shots”. Because what the world witnessed in the next over is second to none. Poor Stuart was at the mercy of Yuvi. First one over long-on, the next over backward square leg, the third one over extra cover, then a swat over deep point to a full toss, the fifth one a hoick over deep midwicket, and finally a massive hit over wide long-on. And again, the immortal lines of Ravi Shastri, “Yes he has…. Six sixes in an over……Yuvraj finishes things off in style.”
Yuvraj Singh 2011 World Cup: –
Throughout his career, Yuvi was all guns blazing. You can just refer to the fact that he had cemented his place in the national side for 13–14 long years and the void he left as a batting number 4 is yet to be successfully filled. So now let’s go to a larger stage. 2011 ODI World Cup. A World Cup in India and possibly the last of “GOD OF CRICKET”. So, what does the king do this time around? As usual, he delivers.
And delivers in absolute carnage. Not just with the bat but also with the ball. Yuvi scored 3 fifties and a hundred against the Windies. But with the ball, it was always Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man! He picked 15 wickets throughout. You can still remember the glimpse of him showing his palm to the crowd after grabbing a 5 for against the Irish. A picture of a delighted Yuvi after finishing the game against the Aussies is always in the heart of all the fans. India won the world cup and Yuvi is adjudged “PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT”.
Yuvraj Singh Comeback in 2017: –
Then came news that would send chills down the spine of an individual. Yuvraj was diagnosed with cancer. A level 1 lung cancer and it was a rare one too. The hearts of the nation sank, the spirits were low. But the champion in Yuvi was untamed. He traveled to the US to get the best of treatments. And as expected he beat the hell out of the illness. Most of his colleagues describe Yuvraj as the biggest fighter. Yuvraj after the illness comes back…. he plays the T-20 world cup in 2014. India is Runners-Up there.
But 2 years later Yuvi was going to have his moment. The year 2016, India vs England ODI series. After docs claimed and experts grilled the fact that Yuvraj’s career was over the Smashing Sardar makes a comeback. The venue was Cuttack and again it was the Englishmen at Yuvraj’s mercy. He blasted a career-best 150. Yuvi continued till 2017 and then was dropped.
In conclusion, I would say that many players “Play the Game” but only a few “Dominate the Game”. Yuvi was one such cricketing great. An immense 8000+ runs while batting at 4 and with that class is a phenomenon. Also, just as to mention he is also one of the most decorated players in history winning U-15, U-19, Open Age, T-20 world cups. Alongside IPL, T-10, and just recently the Road safety series. This article is written as a tribute to that man who intended to sacrifice his life to fulfill a billion dreams. And lastly, as Danny Morisson says …YUVRAJ SINGH….YOU BEAUTY!!!!!
