Colombo: India’s Yuvraj Singh was the focus of everybody’s attention yesterday (Tuesday). The star all-rounder, who survived a life-threatening cancer, was training hard at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) ground like all other Indian players. He took catches, bowled and batted.
Singh looked fit, but he made sure he did not become dehydrated and could be seen many times returning to the team tent to take a sip of an energy drink.
He mingled freely with the media and even shook hands with many of them and, as usual, posed for snaps with groundsmen.
Singh looked in fine fettle, with no signs of strain or tiredness. He was seen closely interacting with India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
At the end of the training session, when Dhoni was asked about Singh’s comeback, he said: “It’s all about putting up a fight. At times, we are all a bit worried about what has happened in the past and the future, which is a bit uncertain. What is important is what we are doing right now, that is what will have a big impact on what will happen in the future. I think he has put up a big fight.”
Dhoni was also very candid about Singh’s fitness with regard to all formats of the game. “He [Yuvraj] looks fit, especially for this format, the short format. He is not 100 per cent fit for Test cricket right now, but he is fully fit for this format. He is shaping up well. He played the last two games over here, and before that he played in India as well. We are hoping that he will come good.”
Dhoni also hinted that Singh will be the mainstay of India’s middle order. “Virat [Kohli] is someone that I think should bat at No 3, which means after that there is Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma. These are the people who need to get in and maybe I will take over the slog opportunity, go in and play big shots right from the very first ball. That would be the most likely scenario, but it might change depending on the situation.”
