 | « Back to article | Print this article |
It's the right time to focus on my Test career: Yuvraj
India's middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh reckons that his best years as a cricketer are "yet to come" and he will now strive to revive his Test career.
Yuvraj is not a regular member of Test squad and lost his place in the side after the series in Sri Lanka last year, but the elegant left-hander said he wants to be remembered as a good Test cricketer after retirement.
"It's the right time to focus on my Test career. I want to be remembered as a good batsman in the longer format of the game. I have always tried to give my best shot whenever on the field but unfortunately injury issues were there", Yuvraj told PTI in an interview.
"In the upcoming series against the West Indies and Australia, I want to score big and make a mark in the Test format. I want to restructure my Test career and I'll raise the bar this time," he said.
'My best years are yet to come'
Yuvraj said he has matured as a player after going through various ups and downs in his career, marred by injury or fitness concerns.
"My best years are yet to come. After a long injury layoff, I am fully fit and raring to go.
"My career has been marred by a lot of injury issues but I think it's on the right path now. My best is yet to come as lot of cricket is still left in me," he said.
'I want to serve Indian cricket for long'
After coming back from England, I worked hard towards my training. My body took a lot of toll in the past one year due to injury issues.
"There are no more injuries and I am looking forward to make a mark through the upcoming West Indies series. I want to do good in the series and serve Indian cricket for long," he said.
Yuvraj was declared Player of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup for his all-round performance, which played an instrumental role in India winning the coveted trophy after a hiatus of 28 years.
Yuvraj has suffered a spate of injuries
After playing in the IPL for the Pune Warriors, Yuvraj was ruled out of the West Indies tour in June-July as he suffered from a lung infection.
The 30-year-old all-rounder suffered a fracture on his left index finger on the fourth day of the second Test against England after being hit on his gloves by a short-pitched delivery from Tim Bresnan.
The injury ruled out Yuvraj for the remainder of the England series as he had been advised at least four weeks rest.
'My consistency has remained a problem'
Yuvraj failed to recover on time for the return series against England and was left out of the five-match ODI series and lone Twenty20.
"My consistency has remained a problem as injury issues affected me in the last two years.
"I will try to maintain the consistency as I am giving more importance to my fitness," he said.
'I still have cricket left in me'
Asked whether he will restrict himself to any one format, Yuvraj said, "I am just 30 and still have cricket left in me.
"I am not 37-38. I will focus on all three formats of the game. May be couple of years later, I will think of playing one format," he said.
'It was tough to watch India losing in England'
Talking about the thrashing India received on the tour of England, Yuvraj said, "In England, we struggled and in India, they struggled.
"It was tough to watch India losing in England. I want to be there with my team."
'I always feel Harbhajan's absence in the team'
Yuvraj said it won't take long for axed off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to impress the selectors and make a comeback.
"I always feel Harbhajan's absence in the team.
"He is a fighter and I am sure he will soon fight his way back into the team."