CHENNAI: If Yuvraj Singh’s recall to the ODI side led to questions, his success has raised another. Should he be India’s No 4 in Champions Trophy? It’s a spot India experimented unsuccessfully with for some time and the left-hander’s tally of 210 in three ODIs against England including 150 in the second makes him the better of contenders.
On the other hand, the event is in England, where a No 4’s defence and technical solidity are often regarded more valuable than aggressive skills. Of the 19 ODIs Yuvraj played there, the last was in September 2007. In 15 of those, he batted No 5 or 6. Can he provide stability the conditions demand?
That pitches in England for limited-over cricket have changed in the last two years and the last 20 ODIs have produced 17 totals above 300 might work in Yuvraj’s favour. Of those who believe he can be the No 4 option, Mohammad Kaif thinks there are other factors also that make him the suitable man.
“You can’t overlook that Yuvraj has a decent record in England (583 in 19 innings at 34.29, strike rate 85.48, four fifties).
He has been there a number of times and knows what it takes to succeed over there. Experience has enriched his game and he also has the coach and captain Kohli’s support. He looks good for No 4,” Kaif told Express.
Yuvraj’s captain in the 1999 U-19 World Cup winning team in Sri Lanka, whose partnership with the left-hander won India a chase of 326 in the NatWest final in England in 2002, feels he can be more destructive undercurrent fielding restrictions.
Yuvraj has not played many ODIs after five fielders inside the 30-yard circle (four in the last 10 overs since October 2015) became mandatory in October 2013.
“Yuvraj will have either mid-off or mid-on up most of the time. If they go deep, someone else has to come inside the circle. Other than natural ability to hit big, the experience needed to exploit these conditions makes him a dangerous customer. He has become calmer and possibly, marriage has helped him approach things in a better frame of mind. He had made comebacks earlier. This time, he looks more in control of things.”
An ageing body that has battled cancer other than injuries could still ask questions, but the one-day secialist status helps Yuvraj in this regard.
“The hours one has to put in if he’s a limited-over guy aren’t that many compared to Tests. He knows how to conserve and how much to run. Post IPL, players have learnt to keep fit for shorter bursts,” noted the player known for maintaining high fitness levels.
If knocks against England are to go by, Yuvraj surprised those who expected a rusty and old figure struggling to recapture past powers. The bowlers fed him with deliveries to pull during that 127-ball 150 in Cuttack, but there were enough punches down the ground, drives and whips off the pads that suggested here’s a batsman who is in ‘his zone’.
“The short-arm jab and checked drive going for four indicates Yuvraj is on song. We saw him just time the ball and it raced away with some force. These are dangerous signs for bowlers,” said Kaif. Selectors will look for such signs and more during IPL before they pick the squad for Champions Trophy.
Domestic Help
Before joining the India line-up for the ODIs, Yuvraj was at one point the leading scorer in Ranji Trophy this season. He missed the last leg of matches for Punjab — due to his wedding — but his 672 runs in five matches (that also consisted of a 260 and a 177) at an average of 84.00 was the best for his state for the entire season.
atreyo@newindianexpress.com