Enjoying himself, Yuvi leaves last year’s demons behind
MUMBAI: Yuvraj Singh, the Player of the Tournament when India won their second 50-over World Cup in 2011, had a horror run in the last Indian Premier League (IPL).
Representing Kings XI Punjab, he aggregated 65 runs from six matches at an average of 10.83. His strike rate of 89.04 was the worst among players who faced at least 50 balls in IPL 2018.
However, playing for his new franchise Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday, Yuvraj was able to put behind him the demons from last season when he biffed a strokefilled half-century albeit in a los--
› When the time comes, I will be the first one to hang my boots. I have been speaking to Sachin as well. Talking to him makes things easier for me. YUVRAJ SINGH, MI batsman
ing cause.
The veteran all-rounder, who was picked by the Mumbai franchise at his base price of ₹1 crore in the second round of the IPL auctions after finding no takers in the first, kept the hosts in the hunt during the 214-run chase despite the dismissals of Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav within the first six overs.
The southpaw hit five fours and three sixes during his knock of 35-ball 53. The innings under- lined his credentials as a topclass even at the age of 37.
SATISFYING SHOW
Saying he was satisfied with the performance, the cricketer from Punjab said he would continue as long as he finds joy in playing cricket.
“The last two years have been up and down (for me). And I could not decide on what to do. The main thing was that why I played the game when I started playing the game. Well, I played the game because I enjoyed playing cricket. When I enjoyed playing cricket, I was not playing for India, I was playing for under-16, under-14 (teams). So till the time I enjoy playing cricket, I am going to play,” he said during the post-match conference.
Asked how he keeps himself motivated, Yuvraj credited cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar for inspiring him. Tendulkar, who is the only cricketer to earn 200 Test Caps, retired after crossing 40 in 2013.
“When the time comes, I will be the first one to hang my boots. I have been speaking to Sachin (Tendulkar) as well and he has gone through that time when he was 37-38-39 and how he felt. Talking to him makes things easier for me,” he said.