Yuvi needs a miracle for India comeback

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 31 

It’s difficult enough to earn a place in the Indian squad for the limited-over cricket. It’s nearly impossible to win back the spot after one gets dropped. Yuvraj Singh, however, hasn’t given up hope yet. The Chandigarh left-hander, who has been out of the national side for nearly a year now, is hopeful of making another comeback. After having a decent Ranji Trophy season, he’s eyeing the upcoming IPL to get the focus back on him. “I am confident of doing well in the tournament. I just hope things will get better from there and I will once again get a chance to play for India,” said Yuvraj.

The left-hander said he had gone through a pretty rough phase after making a comeback following his illness and treatment. “Yes, I’ve been through a couple of tough years. But I am in good shape, I’ve worked hard on my fitness. I have had a good domestic season where I scored back-to-back centuries. So, I am pretty hopeful of doing well,” he said.

It’s not the first time Yuvraj has scored well in the domestic tournament. He had a good run in the domestic circuit immediately after he was cured. But despite his good run and form in the domestic circuit, he looked uncomfortable at international level, especially during the T20 World Cup in Dhaka in 2013.

The dashing left-hander will always be more than handful for the bowlers at the domestic level and, for that matter, even in the IPL. His challenge is whether he could show the same form and consistency at international level. And with the current ODI squad doing rather well and several upcoming youngsters pushing hard for a place, will the selectors be interested in taking a step back and consider him again? And given that MS Dhoni doesn’t consider him a viable bowling option in the wake of the new fielding restrictions, Yuvi’s chances look quite bleak.

Nevertheless, Yuvraj is 33-year-old, and hence has a few more years left in him. But to catch the attention of the selectors again, he will need to come up with something spectacular. A slightly above average tournament won’t get him anywhere from where he’s at the moment.

Zaheer Khan, the other India discard, too has been picked by the Daredevils this time. “I am enjoying playing cricket again. I have been away from cricket for a while now, so just looking forward to get back. Taking one step at a time and IPL is definitely the first step,” said Zaheer.

The Indian pace spearhead not too long back also hopes of making comeback but his chances are even more fragile.