HIGHLIGHTS
Yuvraj is in Monaco as a Laureus ambassador from India. (Getty Images)
ALSO READ: I want to be known as someone who never gave up, says Yuvraj
Yuvraj, who last played for India in June 2017 in an ODI, said the upcoming IPLholds great significance for him as a good performance in the T20 event will help him keep in the fray for a spot in the 2019 World Cup.
“I am looking forward to a good IPL. It’s a very important tournament for me as it will only set me to play cricket till 2019. I am looking to play cricket till 2019, whatever cricket I get to play and take a call after that,” Yuvraj said on the sidelines of the 18th Laureus World Sports Awards.
A regular in the Indian ODI team till the 2011 World Cup triumph before his career was jeopardised by a rare germ cell cancer, Yuvraj’s only regret was that he could not cement his place in the Indian Test side.
“Definitely, in the first 6-7 years of my career when I was at my best I did not get a lot of opportunities because there were such great players in the (Test) team and when I got an opportunity I was diagnosed with cancer. So that regret will always be there but these things are never in my control. I am just looking forward to whatever cricket I get to play,” the 36-year-old all-rounder said.
ALSO READ: I do fail, admits Yuvraj but won’t give up at least till 2019
Yuvraj, who is in Monaco as a Laureus ambassador from India, praised Virat Kohliand his men for the character they showed to bounce back in the limited overs series against South Africa after the close 1-2 loss in the Test rubber.
“I think it is a pretty great performance. They showed a lot of character after losing the Test series. It was as a hard-fought Test series, could have gone either way. But it was a very convincing win in the ODI series. Kohli led from the front with some big runs,” the left-handed batsman said.
“Spinners bowled very well especially Kuldeep (Yadav) and (Yuzvendra) Chahal and got South Africa into trouble. And then they stepped on the gas and won the T20 series 2-1. Going abroad playing three series winning two definitely shows India’s dominance.”
Kohli might have set his sights on winning the upcoming tours of England and Australia but Yuvraj said India will need consistent performances from the players to achieve the goal.
“It’s a good start to believe that you can dominate outside. If you can consistently do that in England and Australia you definitely will have the belief,” he said.
Yuvraj himself has climbed up the ladders of age group cricket to stand where he is today and so he offered some words of advice for the likes of young Prthivi Shawand Shubman Gill, who have already fetched big money from their respective franchises in the last IPL auctions.
“I think Prithvi, Shubman, Abhishek Sharma are great talents and hopefully in the next coming years we will see them play for India. I am sure the IPL will give them a great platform to learn from other international players and feel the hype of international cricket. So it’s very important tournament for them and they should enjoy it,” Yuvraj signed off.