26 March,2011 06:35 AM IST | | Debasish Datta
Aus conqueror Yuvraj grateful to Tendulkar for motivating him along the way
Yuvraj Singh, among the most valuable players of the World Cup so far, yesterday said that Sachin Tendulkar played a huge role in his turning the corner after a difficult last year.
Yuvraj is ecstatic after India's win over Australia in Ahmedabad on Thursday
"Besides my parents, who are always motivating me, it was Sachin Tendulkar who regularly called me up, and encouraged and discussed how to go about it (getting back to form)," Yuvraj told MiD DAY. Yuvraj is among the top-five run-getters of the tournament with an aggregate of 341 runs, and also has taken 11 wickets.
His rich vein of form in the tournament has been a contrast to 2010 when he battled injuries and form, and lost his place in the Test team. The 29-year-old, who hit a match-winning 57 in the nerve-wracking quarter-final against Australia on Thursday, said that his mother provided him the motivation to put in the extra hard work.
"My mom guided me a lot. She kept saying, 'you'll have the opportunity, your day will come'. I think it has arrived," the southpaw said.
Asked what has changed with regard to his cricket, Yuvraj said: "I found out that keeping the ball along the ground is very, very important. Now I concentrate on finding the gaps. It has worked very nicely for me."
Yuvraj said that his recent good form was a direct result of his hard work. "I worked with coach Gary Kirsten. He helped me find my touch and rhythm. The moment I started to pull the ball well, in the nets, I realised that the good times are round the corner," he said.
"In order to play the perfect pull shot, you need to move your waist nicely and the foot as well. I am also picking up the length very early and by practising for hours, I think my hunger for success has increased."
