 Thoroughbred in the makingWho is India’s best batsman? Easy question? Sachin Tendulkar? Virender Sehwag? Rahul Dravid? My vote goes to Yuvraj Singh, the way he is batting now. He has been behind every one of India’s recent successes, proving to be a master finisher, despite stepping into a crisis almost every time he has reached the crease. His body language is supremely confident. Where there was a touch of arrogance, not entirely deserved, before, there is now a quiet air of confidence, a monumental calm even as wickets tumble at the other end. His technique, he has refined to a simple, uncomplicated, erect stance and sure footwork.
His bat comes down straighter than ever before, and gone is the uncertainty that plagued him earlier, especially if he had to face spin first up. His straight drives are immaculate, and on the offside, he has done the impossible by putting Sourav Ganguly in the shade.
When he hooks, there is an aura of nonchalance about it, and his flick has the ferocity of a whiplash. His leg glances are so fine they leave fine leg with no chance; and there is nothing gentle about them, for he sends the ball on its way from anywhere on the stumps with a powerful roll of the wrists.
What is behind this transformation in a batsman whose undoubted talent had in the past been blemished by a near-casual approach, an impetuosity that let him down frequently and a tendency to let extraneous factors affect his game? His international debut against Australia in Kenya had been sensational, and everyone expected him to be one of India’s stars overnight. But Yuvraj did not quite live up to those expectations straightaway. His footwork was often leaden, and his temperament in serious doubt, despite some magnificent rearguard actions scripted by him in the company of the likes of Mohammad Kaif, with whom he does seem to enjoy a special rapport, starting from the time they played together for the India Under-19 that won the 2000 World Cup. Luckily, he earned Ganguly’s steadfast support and that kept him in the reckoning despite frequent failures and question marks against his commitment.
I believe one of the factors responsible for the blossoming of this unusual talent has been the unreserved encouragement he has received from the current team management. And of course, his own ability and determination to succeed have played no mean part. Yuvraj Singh’s future might have been in jeopardy when the change of guard took place at the apex of Indian cricket, had lesser men succeeded the earlier regime. While some others might have regarded him as a Ganguly loyalist and therefore an undesirable, the Chappell-Dravid team saw in him great promise and match-winning ability.
Even at the time of this season’s Challenger Trophy, Chappell announced that Yuvraj was batting better than ever before, and backed him all the way, to go by published reports. And the young man has fully repaid those who reposed their faith in him. He is on the threshold of possibly the most fruitful phase of his cricket career in both versions of the game. India is lucky to have a batsman and fielder of his calibre in the middle order.
V Ramnarayan
|
