Comeback Cricketer: Yuvraj Singh

On why he will continue to talk about cancer more than he does on cricket, gobi ke paranthe and the green room

By Kumar Saurav · Mar 2013 · 4 min read

Read FHM India in the digital libraryEvery issue, every shoot, on TCG Media.Read now

Off lately Yuvraj Singh has mostly been looked upon as a cancer survivor. While FHM completely respects the perspective in which he has been reported in media, we would still like to let the 31-year-old be a cricketer, perform on the pitch and amaze us with his boundaries like he always has. When FHM asked the left-hander if even he thinks that it's time that media talks to him more about cricket than just cancer, he said, "I am a cricketer who has gone through cancer, and I have no hesitation in talking about my cancer. I am cricketer and a cancer survivor and both the things have played a very important role in my life. I think when I talk about cancer it generates more awareness about the disease and removes stigma attached to it, and I am very happy to work on both these aspects."

The middle order batsman and spinner who made a comeback during the World Twenty 20 Championship in Sri Lanka last September was recently dropped from the first two tests to be played against Australia in March this year. "Well, of course it’s disheartening to be dropped but all players go through fluctuations in form and sometimes it’s very important to take a step back from the pressure of international cricket and focus on training and technique. It’s pointless to feel discouraged for too long and players quickly realise they need to work hard to earn their place back in the squad, and they take steps to make that happen." Continuing to talk about his comeback performance, he says, "You always think that you can do better but considering what my body has undergone, I was satisfied with my performance. I was hitting the ball well, got crucial breakthroughs for the team in bowling and got a few run outs as well. All in all it was a decent comeback for me." Recalling the moments when he is sent back to the pavilion at a crucial moment in the game, and how he is seen in the green room he says,"How can it be cool. At that moment you are disappointed with yourself, but after a while you look at your game and understand how you can improve and get better. This is all part of the game and learning cycle to evolve as cricketer."

Read FHM India in the digital libraryEvery issue, every shoot, on TCG Media.

While Indian cricket team has proven its mettle from time to time, the fact remains that our players are not fit, and everyone in the team has battled fitness at one or the other point of time. To know the fitness routine of a cricketer, we asked Yuvraj about his fitness regime and also asked him to chalk out a fitness plan for his fans. This is what he had to say, "Running is the best cardiovascular exercise, so definitely one must run 3-4 days in a week. If clubbed with a good diet, even Yoga and weight training can help you achieve your goals be it weight loss or muscle-building. If you follow this, you should be good to go." And what about paranthas, are they as unhealthy as they have been made to be by the advertisements. Bang came the reply from the man whose love for gobi ke paranthe is well-known, "Paranthas are my weakness, so I’m not going to comment on how healthy or unhealthy they are!"

For the Sikh Jat, his six sixes against England in the inaugural ICC Twenty20 super 8 match in 2007 is still the most memorable moment, and second on the list is the last World Cup victory in 2011.

Yuvraj who was once known to be an angry man now looks extremely composed at public appearances. " Yes, I am at peace and want to live every moment to the fullest. I am taking each day as it comes. I don’t want to look too far ahead instead I want to focus on each match. I still have to play my best cricket and I am working on the same." With that kind of commitment, the dude will surely rock the scoreboard. We will wait and watch.