'Yuvraj is back my friend!' -- 31-year-old steals show on comeback

Yuvraj Singh was a man in the limelight yesterday making a fine comeback. He smashed a match-winning unbeaten 77 against Australia in the one-off T20 International on Thursday. But the middle-order batsman wasn’t sure if he was in a mood to celebrate.

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"Well I don't know if I am happy or sad. Happy that I hit the ball, and sad that Sachin is retiring. But really happy the way I hit the ball and how I continued to play well since the India ‘A’ and West Indies ‘A’ series," Yuvraj said.

"I would like to dedicate it to Sachin and hopefully, maybe tell him on the phone as well. That is the least I can do, dedicate this knock to him. I will also like to dedicate this knock to my mother who prayed a lot for my comeback. Everyday she has been praying for me," he said.

"Yuvi is back my friend!" the 31-year-old said.

Yuvraj rated his comeback knock as special and said, "I have come back after a few months. I have worked quite hard in the off season and I have worked on the mental aspect of my game," he said.

"Just happy the way I hit the ball. I have been playing well in the domestic season. I had a tough off-season, shed a few kilos, so I am happy the way I am hitting the ball," he added.

On the unbeaten 102-run stand he had with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj said, "We have had a lot of partnerships in the past. And we have always discussed which bowlers to go after. If I get out then, one person is attacking and one person is trying to rotate the strike. We have had a very good understanding between us for last couple of years. So talking to him always helps."

He said he hoped to continue his form in the seven-match ODI series starting October 13 in Pune.

"I hope to continue the good form. Play according to the situation and try to make India win again. Australia is ranked number two in ODIs. They have a very good side. It is going to be a good series so I hope to contribute with my batting, bowling and fielding. It is going to be a tough series and hopefully we can play good tough cricket, sensible cricket and win the series," he said.