Ranji Trophy 2017/18: Disappointed Yuvraj Singh Skips Game Against Goa

Out-of-favour India batsman Yuvraj Singh has skipped the Punjab’s ongoing Ranji Trophy tie against Goa at Goa Cricket Association Academy Ground, Porvorim and the reason behind his absence is a bit baffling.

According to rumours in the media, the World Cup-winning skipper has decided to skip the domestic game following the disappointing results in the Yo-Yo endurance test. The  veteran batsman, who had received a surprising recall from the Indian team earlier this year, was dropped from the team after the West Indies tour and although his form was not good, several reports suggested that the failure to clear the fitness test was the prime reason behind his ouster. He failed to clear the test on the second chance too and reports are now claiming that it has disappointed him and so he decided to give the Ranji Trophy game a miss.

In fact, several media sources have also reported that Yuvraj and his Punjab teammate Harbhajan Singh are not taking Ranji Trophy seriously as they have given up hopes of making a comeback into the Indian side. The duo had skipped the first round of the Ranji Trophy as they went to the National Cricket Academy for the Yo-Yo Test.

In fact, Harbhajan had also missed the second game against Vidarbha which Punjab lost by an innings and 117 runs. The veteran off-spinner was named the captain before the start of the season but the team was led by Yuvraj in his absence. Opening batsman Jiwanjot Singh has now donned the captain’s hat in the crucial ongoing game against Goa.

Well, the reports might not be completely true but recent signs are definitely not encouraging for the two stars. Both the World Cup-winning players have fallen down in the pecking order and are not even in the frame to get a call from the Indian team.

The team-management has already made it clear that it would be trying out new players in the middle-order which effectively ends Yuvraj’s chances of returning to the team while the arrival of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav has more or less ended any possibility of Harbhajan’s return to the team. Moreover, the way both the players are not taking the Ranji Trophy seriously, it is only going to make it tough for them to return to the national team.