The New Prince of Indian Cricket. Review on Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh is really the new prince ('yuvraj') of Indian cricket. It was not long back that young Yuvraj Singh was seen as a symbol of Indian cricket's revival. Yuvraj made his debut in the ICC Knockout Trophy against Kenya, where he got to bowl just four overs and did not get to bat. But in the subsequent matches in the tournament, he showed his mettle by winning matches almost single-handedly for India against formidable opponents like Australia and South Africa, Yuvraj was seen as one of the best things to happen to Indian cricket in recent times.

The rapid-fire 84 off 80 balls against the mighty Aussies in the ICC Knockout tournament was an excellent knock. He was brilliant on the field effecting a run-out of Michael Bevan and taking a superb catch to dismiss Ian Harvey, swinging the match in India's favour, though he did not get a bowl. Yuvraj, who cut a dashing figure in the middle-order, even won praise from Steve Waugh. This was followed by a 41 off 35 balls and a wicket against South Africa.

But then things started going horribly wrong for Yuvraj. The law of averages finally caught up with the flamboyant left-hander from Punjab ('The Pied Piper of Punjab' as Sidhu would like to call him) and a string of rash shots leading to a string of low scores had the press baying for his blood. In spite of being the best talent on view, Yuvraj failed to win the confidence of the selectors. His inability to read Muralitharan in Sharjah did not help matters. Scores of 7,7 and 3 in three innings did not help his cause at all. Only played one ODI against Australia on their Indian tour and made just 19.

Almost a year later, in the tri-series in Sri Lanka, Yuvraj burst into the scene again with a well-made 98 not out (which to date remains his highest score in ODI) and another 31 to help India win against Lanka. But in the tri nation series in the South African tour saw Yuvraj struggle again making 14, 42, 3 and a duck against South Africa and 0 and 10 not out against Kenya, and not making any contribution with bowling as well.

The flamboyance that gave him instant stardom began coming under the microscope. Yuvraj had set himself high standards, which elicited equally high expectations. The top brass at the BCCI decided that the youngster needed a little rap on the knuckles and Yuvraj found himself out in the cold. Yuvraj was also criticised for having an attitude problem and his innings against Australia being little more than a flash in the pan. Consequently he was dropped for the home series against England.

But you cannot keep a good man down for long and Yuvraj bounced back in the series against Zimbabwe in 2002 when in back-to-back matches, he played match-winning innings of 80 not out and 75. The selectors could no longer afford to ignore Yuvraj and he was back on rails for the tour to West Indies in the ODI team where again he disappointed with scores of 1 and 10. But the selection committee persisted with the potential talent of Yuvraj by including him in the ODI team for the England tour, the faith which he returned by some superb batting.

The maturity that the southpaw has shown in the ongoing NatWest triangular series should hold him in good stead. Coming in to bat under pressure against England in the first match, Yuvraj was a study in concentration as he along with Dravid systematically went about blunting the English bowling attack during his course of 64 not out. Earlier in the same match, Yuvraj had been instrumental in stemming the flow of runs taking three vital English wickets at crucial junctures for 39 runs. In the third match of India against England, he bettered himself by showing how he can give that finishing touch to an excellent consolidation done by Dravid and Tendulkar by scoring 40 in just 19 balls, the match unfortunately for India being called off due to rain. His 31 and 37 in the matches against Sri Lanka also helped India in winning them.

In fact apart from Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj alone has the ability to win matches for India on his own. I see him as the perfect replacement for Ajay Jadeja, one who can finish an innings from around the 35th over to the 50th over. He did it in the ICC Trophy, again against Zimbabwe and yet again in the present tri series in England. The best thing about Yuvraj’s batting is that he does not let the bowlers dominate. Being a naturally aggressive player, as long as he stays in the crease he breathes that so much confidence in the Indian team to feel that they are in with a chance no matter how hopeless the situation looks.

Having scored 836 runs at an average of 31 runs per match (which is very good for a new comer in present day one day cricket) and also having taken 15 wickets, Yuvraj is turning into a true all rounder in the strictest sense with his batting, bowling and fielding.

One of the fittest players in the Indian squad and a live wire on the field, Yuvraj has made a big difference to India's efforts in the field. Yuvraj has pulled off some sensational catches and effected brilliant run-outs.

As a batsman Yuvraj is a natural strokeplayer with a propensity to play the big shots too often. Yuvraj is still a little uncomfortable against the spinners and needs to work on that part of his game. A more than useful left-arm spinner, Yuvraj provides Ganguly with an extra bowling option.

If handled judiciously, Yuvraj can be easily slip into the role that Shahid Afridi performs so well for Pakistan in the middle overs. A supremely confident cricketer, Yuvraj oozes confidence which is sometimes misinterpreted as being all attitude. It is this very swagger that augurs well for Indian cricket. Ajay Jadeja lent that bit of aggression to the Indian side in the past and Yuvraj is in the same mould.

Cutting a dashing figure on the ground, Yuvraj has a huge fan following and sponsors have being tripping themselves over in their zest to rope him in. The youngster has an agent of his own to deal with sponsors and has a lavish lifestyle. But then Yuvraj is a product of his times and the fact that he likes living it up cannot be held against him.

With the World Cup drawing near, Yuvraj Singh seems to be one of India's best bet and the youngster needs to be persisted with. Yuvraj now seems to be taking his cricket more seriously and this is the right time to provide him some encouragement in the shape of a regular slot in the squad.