When Yuvraj Singh Gave Up Pace Bowling To Become A Batsman

Published - 26 Jul 2020, 09:46 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:32 AM

Yuvraj Singh
Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Former Indian all-rounder engaged in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda and spoke on a wide variety of topics. Yuvraj Singh spoke on his comeback to cricket after a battle with cancer during the peak and the closing stages of his career. Amid this, the World Cup-winning athlete made one of the most surprising revelations about himself.

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Yuvraj Singh retired from all forms of cricket in June 2019 amongst the most successful all-rounders produced by India. The 38-year old played an instrumental role in India’s T20 World Cup victory in 2007 and 50-over triumph in 2011, both under MS Dhoni. In the latter, Yuvraj earned the man of the tournament award for taking 15 wickets with his left-arm spin and scoring above 360 runs.

Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh (Credits: Twitter)

Coming to the surprising revelation, Yuvraj Singh stated that when he attended the Bishan Singh Bedi Camp in Palam, he was a fast bowler. Being not a batsman, the southpaw went on to score a hundred in a match. When on 90, he hit Angad Bedi for two sixes with the ball landing outside the ropes.

I was in Bishan Singh Bedi’s camp in Palam,” Yuvraj told SportsKeeda. “I was about 11-12 years old. I was a seamer; a fast bowler. I wasn’t a batsman at the time. I remember going and batting at six, and I scored a hundred in that match. I was batting on 90 with not a single six. One left-arm spinner came; I think it was Angad [Bedi]. I hit him for two sixes and the ball landed outside the ropes. At 11-12, you don’t have that kind of power,” the left-handed batsman said.

“That was the day I realised I could bat too” : Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh (Credits: Getty)

That day it dawned upon the Chandigarh-born cricketer that he could bat too. Due to his back problem, he switched to bowling spin. Across formats, he took 148 scalps.

That was the day I realised I could bat too. I thought I could be a seaming all-rounder, but due to my back, I switched to spin. I broke my bat, but I’m glad it happened because without it I wouldn’t have talent of batting,” he added.

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