When you speak about Yuvraj Singh, the first thing which comes to mind is his dedication towards the game.
Despite getting diagnosed with cancer following India’s World Cup success in 2011, Yuvraj made a sensational comeback within a year, and after getting dropped on several occasions, he hasn’t stopped working hard and has made extraordinary comebacks in the national team.
It was early in the year when Yuvraj made a sensational comeback against England in an ODI series where he also struck his highest ODI score of 150. The southpaw looked in ominous touch and demolished the English attack with disdain. He played a brilliant knock in the Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan, but since then Yuvraj failed to out on the big scores on a consistent basis which eventually led to his ouster from the team.
There were reports that Yuvraj failed the yo-yo test which has become mandatory for any Indian player to pass to get selected for the senior team. Also, as per reports, he was offered a farewell game by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), but he declined it. Yuvraj would like to feel he still has some cricket left in him and can force his way back into the national team yet again.
Now let us jot down the possible reasons why Yuvraj didn’t opt for the farewell match,
Hardly any big player has retired at the age of 35
Yuvraj Singh might be 35, but there are not many instances when a great like Yuvraj has called it quit at this age. He still can score runs and play freely but what is bothering him the most is his fitness. Given the importance of fitness in the current Indian team, it won’t be easy for Yuvraj to force his way back into the side yet again.
He still can hit the big shots and will like to believe just like the beginning of the year he can yet again make a comeback. With the fairytale-like return, he has made in the past, another dramatic return to the national team cannot get ruled out yet.
India doesn’t have a dependable No 4
He is the most experienced Indian batsmen in the circuit, and with the fragility, in the Indian middle-order, Yuvraj will like to feel he still can make a comeback and seal the No four spot which is up for the grabs. Hardik Pandya has been tried there on a few occasions and despite succeeding a couple of times, the move cannot be employed on a permanent basis.
Following Virat Kohli, the Indian team lacks a proper No four and five before MS Dhoni. Kedar Jadhav and Manish Pandey are both sensible players but hasn’t been able to score on a consistent basis for the team. They have looked in ominous touch in patches but has failed to seize their opportunity on a regular basis.
Yuvraj, on the other hand, can pace his innings according to the situation of the game. It was evident from his whirlwind knock against England early in the year where he tore apart all the English bowlers and scored a sensational 150.
He still wants to make a comeback in the national team
When the selectors offered him a farewell match, it proved that the southpaw was no more in the scheme of things. But, if he again starts performing in the domestic circuit his name is bound to come up yet again. However, what’s important for Yuvraj is maintaining the level of fitness with other players in the team.
He was one of the finest Indian fielders during his heydays but with age not by his side he has become a bit slow over the years. His body has gone through several ups and downs and given his utmost dedication to the game, Yuvraj felt it wouldn’t have the correct time to bid adieu to international cricket.