Yuvraj Singh hopes to play the 2019 World Cup
One of the most stylish left-handed batsmen of all time, Yuvraj Singh revealed that he still hopes of being a part of the 2019 World Cup team.
The southpaw was instrumental in India winning the 2007 T20 World Cup and was also the player of the series in the 2011 World Cup which India won beating Sri Lanka in the Final.
Targetting 2019 World Cup
When asked about what else does he wish to achieve in his career after achieving everything a cricketer could, the flamboyant southpaw said, “I think if I finish my career with 70-80 Test matches, and play the 2019 World Cup, that will be a huge achievement.”
“That’s my target. If I can achieve that, I will go with no regrets. If I don’t, I’ve always given my 100%, and that’s what I want to leave behind.”
On the pink ball and playing under the lights
Yuvraj is the captain of the India Red team in the ongoing Duleep Trophy where the tournament is being held under lights and with a pink ball for the very first time in a tournament in India.
Speaking about the pink ball, Yuvi said that it might actually make Test cricket exciting, “I think that’s the way forward, it’s something to look forward to, especially in the night, to bat and to field. Hopefully, it does well,” he said.
Also read: Yuvraj Singh admits it is difficult to reach out to MS Dhoni on the phone
Yuvraj was at his prime when he diagnosed with cancer and lost out on his best years of cricket.
“It was the darkest phase of my life. I was at the peak of my career, winning the World Cup, being Man of the Tournament, I had a great IPL – but my health was getting worse. Then being diagnosed with cancer when you’re at that level – you feel what wrong did you do?”, Yuvraj lamented.
On the Olympics
The southpaw from Punjab heaped praise on Sakshi Malik, PV Sindhu and Dipa Karmakar for making the country proud in the Rio Olympics.
“I’m very proud of what these girls have achieved. Getting a Silver in badminton is no mean job. You get a Bronze, you get a Silver. Dipa Karmakar comes fourth in gymnastics – you hardly have any facilities for the sport in the country. A girl comes from nowhere and finishes fourth. It’s a huge honour for the country, and you now know that tomorrow if you give facilities out there to all of India, how much talent can come out.”
Also read: Yuvraj Singh says he wished he had played in the same team as Ricky Ponting
Yuvraj also spoke about the talented crop of players that are coming out from the domestic circuit and pointed out a few names who he thinks could go on to play for the country.
“I think Kuldeep Yadav has been bowling exceptionally well – bowling on flat tracks but getting wickets with his trajectory. I think Pradeep Sangwan, he’s someone who’s played a lot of domestic cricket,he’s doing very well.:
“Nathu Singh is one of the fast bowlers who is shaping up really well. Mayank Agarwal has been there in the reckoning – Sheldon Jackson is one of the very exciting young players. It’s a great bunch of talent out there, which should go the next step.”
With a long Test season lined up for Team India in home conditions, Yuvraj would look to perform consistently in the domestic circuit to reignite his chances of returning to the Indian Test setup.