Sharjah: Yuvraj Singh, named man of the match in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s big win over Delhi Daredevils in the IPL on Thursday night, has still not quite got over the hurt at the criticism for his performance in the World Twenty20 final earlier this month.
India lost the final to Sri Lanka and Yuvraj’s meagre score of 11 off 21 balls had critics singling him out as the cause of defeat, while some miscreants even pelted stones at his house.
Speaking at the press conference after his match-winning 52 against Delhi Daredevils, Yuvraj said: “The problem with our country is that people forget what you have done in the past. They forget what the guys have done for their country.”
A senior member of the Indian team, Yuvraj was instrumental in both the country’s last two World Cup triumphs — the World Twenty20 in 2007 and then as man of the tournament in the 2011 World Cup. Does such insensitive behaviour still hurt him?
He said: “I am not sad. I am sad for those people who do such kind of things because if that’s the way you want to treat people who have brought laurels for your country, it’s their choice. I don’t have much to say. It was not in good taste.”
Breaking his silence on that forgettable outing for India, Singh tried to put things in perspective: “Obviously you are disappointed when you have lost a World Cup final. You know that you have gotten out at an important stage and you could not contribute for your team. But at the end of the day, you need to realise that it’s a game and anybody can have a bad day. You have to give credit to bowlers [and realise] also that the bowlers can do well.
“I have come here and I am glad it’s [the IPL] been outside India and I could focus on my game, stay away from distractions and what people were talking about.”
Expressing satisfaction at hitting his stride in the IPL straight away, the dashing all-rounder said: “I needed to get some rhythm. I thought I needed to play the way I play. There’s a lot of relief when you know that in your team, there’s AB de Villiers and Albie Morkel coming in next. I could go out there and play freely.”
The most expensive player in the IPL auction this year at Rs. 14 crores, Singh was obviously happy that he switched to a team which would allow him freedom.
“I thought I wanted to go to a place where I could express myself, and Virat [Kohli] and Zaheer Khan always told me that RCB was a place where you could come and play the way you want, because there are so many dynamic players over here. You don’t have to worry about carrying on until the end alone.”
Asked about his chemistry with captain Kohli, who insisted on having Singh in the marquee RCB line-up, he was effusive in his praise: “I think Virat has grown up in front of my eyes and I have seen how his career has gone. I think he and I share a very good relationship on and off the field.”
