Mahendra Singh Dhoni must probably be thinking, 'damned if I do, damned if I don't' when it comes to Yuvraj Singh. When the left-hander was castled after missing the ball by a proverbial mile against
Mahendra Singh Dhoni must probably be thinking, 'damned if I do, damned if I don't' when it comes to Yuvraj Singh. When the left-hander was castled after missing the ball by a proverbial mile against
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Pakistan in the ICC World T20 last Friday, it was obvious that India's favourite 'born again' child was struggling — and badly at that. Just the way he was when he was bowled through the gate in his last appearance for India against South Africa.
Post the Pakistan match, Yuvraj's struggle was apparent when he scratched 10 runs off 19 balls against the West Indies in an easy situation where all he needed to do was to take singles and stay at the wicket.
His discomfort against Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels showed, once again, that the man who had carted Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over has become a pale shadow of his earlier destructive avatar.
Now, I'm not sure if MSD will be in the 'damn if I do or don't' mode when he sits with India's invisible coach Duncan Fletcher, when they pick the team for the next fixture against Bangladesh.
In all probability, he will still root for the Chandigarh southpaw like he has done, in the past, for his 'buddies' Ravindra Jadeja, and Suresh Raina.
The big question
My question tMahendra Singh Dhoni must probably be thinking, 'damned if I do, damned if I don't' when it comes to Yuvraj Singh. When the left-hander was castled after missing the ball by a proverbial mile against
Pakistan in the ICC World T20 last Friday, it was obvious that India's favourite 'born again' child was struggling — and badly at that. Just the way he was when he was bowled through the gate in his last appearance for India against South Africa.
Post the Pakistan match, Yuvraj's struggle was apparent when he scratched 10 runs off 19 balls against the West Indies in an easy situation where all he needed to do was to take singles and stay at the wicket.
His discomfort against Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels showed, once again, that the man who had carted Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over has become a pale shadow of his earlier destructive avatar.
Now, I'm not sure if MSD will be in the 'damn if I do or don't' mode when he sits with India's invisible coach Duncan Fletcher, when they pick the team for the next fixture against Bangladesh.
In all probability, he will still root for the Chandigarh southpaw like he has done, in the past, for his 'buddies' Ravindra Jadeja, and Suresh Raina.
The big question
My question to the skipper, Fletcher and the national selectors therefore is: After having watched Yuvi struggle against South Africa - he got out in a similar fashion against Pakistan and struggled against a depleted West Indian attack - what made him a preferred choice to be picked for the ICC World T20? What were his performances after the SA tour in local domestic tournaments?
Fear of failure
The answer may be that Yuvraj is a match-winner; one who can turn a game on its head. The next question would then be: When did he last win a game for India or Punjab?
Yuvi's problem is certainly not a technical one. It probably rests in his mind - it may be the fear of failure or the concern of not being able to live up to the reputation he has built. It's a conundrum that team India needs to sort out immediately.
PS: I'm not even getting into how the Prince of Chandigarh struggled while fielding.
Hemant Kenkre is a former senior division Mumbai club cricketer
o the skipper, Fletcher and the national selectors therefore is: After having watched Yuvi struggle against South Africa - he got out in a similar fashion against Pakistan and struggled against a depleted West Indian attack - what made him a preferred choice to be picked for the ICC World T20? What were his performances after the SA tour in local domestic tournaments?
Fear of failure
The answer may be that Yuvraj is a match-winner; one who can turn a game on its head. The next question would then be: When did he last win a game for India or Punjab?
Yuvi's problem is certainly not a technical one. It probably rests in his mind - it may be the fear of failure or the concern of not being able to live up to the reputation he has built. It's a conundrum that team India needs to sort out immediately.
PS: I'm not even getting into how the Prince of Chandigarh struggled while fielding.
Hemant Kenkre is a former senior division Mumbai club cricketer
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