OUR SON WILL BE CALLED ORION KEECH SINGH: YUVRAJ
On Father’s Day, former cricketer Yuvraj Singh talks about his son, learning to do daddy duties and being a firsttime parent
The last five months have been very “different, special and emotionally overwhelming” for former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who welcomed his first child with wife, actor Hazel Keech Singh. In an exclusive chat with us on Father’s Day, Yuvi gets excited and emotional as he talks about his newborn son, who they’ve named Orion Keech Singh. “Orion is a star constellation, and for parents, your kid is your star. When Hazel was pregnant and sleeping in the hospital, I was watching some episodes where the name came to me and Hazel took an instant liking to it. I wanted Hazel’s last name to also come in the baby’s name, so that’s how it came about,” Yuvi reveals. He shares that his happiness knew no bounds when he learnt that Hazel was pregnant. “We were trying for a while to have a baby, but it didn’t happen. So, I was very emotional when I heard the news,” he tells us. Excerpts:
This is your first Father’s Day! How’s this feeling like?
It’s really special! My parents would always tell me, ‘One day when you will become a father, you will understand the love your parents have for you’. Now, I actually understand what they meant. It’s such an amazing feeling that you really can’t put it into words. When I saw the baby, I had tears in my eyes. I didn’t know what to say or to do.
How has fatherhood changed your life in these five months? What about daddy duties?
It took a while to understand that I was a father, but yes, I’m a decently hands-on father; Hazel has trained me well. I’m not as perfect as she is, but I can feed him a bottle, change his nappy, and put on clothes. When I’m changing his nappies or putting on his clothes, I need time and I don’t want people around me. It’s like a mission for me, but I still do it. He has peed on everyone except me, so I’m the next target (laughs).
As you keep travelling for work, does it get hard to leave Hazel and Orion behind?
I try and spend as much time with them as possible... It’s kind of tough, but these four to five years are very important for a kid growing in front of you and I do not want to miss that.
Has your son started to recognise you?
For the first few days, he was a little bit scared, like, ‘Who’s this guy?’. But then he slowly started to recognise my voice; there are a couple of songs I try to sing to him. He’s a very smiling baby unless he’s hungry — then he’s like his dad — he cries and throws a fit.
Of whatever you’ve learnt from your father, what would you want to teach your son?
My father (Yograj Singh, former cricketer) made me work really hard. So, I’d definitely encourage Orion to work hard in whatever field he gets into. I learnt lot of dedication and never-give-up ttitude from my ather. I’d motivate my on through that ourney as well. Whatever your dream is, hase it till the end.
our mum, Shabnam ingh, has been your illar of strength. How mportant is it for you o have a similar bond with your child?
When I was growing up, my parents were actually alling apart. And for a kid, ’s very important to have he love of his parents. So, it’s mportant that Hazel and I ave a healthy relationship in he family orientation for our hild to grow up. We will lways make an effort so that e should have the love of his arents no matter what.
I’m a decently hands-on father; Hazel has trained me well. I can feed Orion a bottle, change his nappy and put on his clothes. YUVRAJ SINGH, Former cricketer
eing a Punjabi at heart, ow would Hazel and you nsure that Orion stays connected to his Indian roots?
Hazel has a great family environment with her mum and dad. When I come to India, my parents live separately, but I make an effort to spend time with them. That’s what we’d want our child to learn — family values. Also, I’d really like Orion to learn Hindi and Punjabi. Obviously, he’s going to speak English as he’d be living in England half of the time, and Hazel would like to teach him a foreign language, French or Spanish. It’s already sounding like there’s too much pressure on him (chuckles), I just want to go with the flow and also it’s too early.
Would you want Orion to be a cricketer one day? What if he wants to be an actor?
I’m not going to be like my dad, who said, ‘You’re only going to play cricket’. When Orion was born, my dad said, ‘I want to make him a fast bowler’, and I was like, ‘Dad, too much pressure, too early. Let him come out of the hospital first’. So, I won’t pressure him to do anything, but I’d encourage him to play golf at an early age.