Yuvraj Singh

Kochi: Come Wednesday and Yuvraj Singh will complete seven years as a big league-cricketer. While the 25-year-old has often made headlines, the biggest have been in recent weeks, thanks to his stellar role in India's World Twenty20 triumph. Vice-captain for the ODIs and in Twenty20, Yuvraj spoke to The Telegraph on Monday afternoon.

The following are excerpts

On whether, with all the moolah coming in (over Rs 2 crore from the BCCI, including his share of the prize money), he’s looking for a financial adviser

(Laughs) No... No... My mom (Shabnam) is very good in these matters... I have one in-house! What’s most pleasing is the recognition I’ve got, not so much the actuals of the reward... One dreams of being part of a World Cup-winning team and that got realised last week... This appreciation is like the icing on a cake.

On whether there’s enough space in his garage for a Porsche to join a Mercedes, BMW and a Honda CR-V

Well... Space has to be found... I haven’t decided on its colour... It could either be red or black... Right now, it’s time to focus on this Australia series.

On non-cricketers being upset with the rewards for cricketers

Winners in other sport too should be rewarded. Why not? Obviously, the other associations aren’t strong.

On whether the environment around him has changed in the past week

Well, there are more people talking about me... After the six sixes, they’re seeing me as an entertainer, but I realise people’s memory is short... We’re feted as heroes when we win, rubbished when we don’t. For most, what really matters is the today or the past week, not anything else.

On whether the disappointment of having lost the 2003 World Cup final (to Australia) is now a thing of the distant past

That disappointment is going to remain... That just wasn’t our day... I must say South Africa has been quite lucky for us and, this time, we took a lot of confidence from beating Australia in the semi-finals... The Australians, after all, win most of the tournaments.

On his emotions during last Monday’s World Twenty20 final against Pakistan

The one thought which kept coming to mind is that I shouldn’t be part of an XI which lost another World Cup final... That, somehow, we had to win this as one may never again be in the final of a World Cup or a World Twenty20...

On whether he’d been tense when Misbah-ul Haq began clearing the boundary

Frankly, I was nervous... Couldn’t have taken another World Cup loss at the same ground (Wanderers)... I’d been at point, but moved myself to long-off in case a big hit went in that region... My mind went blank when Sreesanth took the catch... Then, seeing my teammates run, even I ran... It’s very difficult to describe those first few moments.

On what made the difference in our World Twenty20 campaign

The fielding... We had a young team... Also, our bowlers were very good throughout... Harbhajan (Singh) and Irfan (Pathan) were making their India comeback, but never showed as if they were under pressure... They performed in key moments... Then, somebody like Gautam (Gambhir) was so consistent with the bat.

On the find of the tournament

Rohit Sharma... He comes through as lazy during nets, but turned in a superb performance versus South Africa...His temperament, range of shots and even his fielding was fantastic that evening. He was a revelation.

On six sixes in that Stuart Broad over

As I’ve said, I wanted to do something which would relieve me of the burden of having been hit for five sixes at the (Brit) Oval ODI by Dimitri Mascarenhas... I’m happy I got six in six in a must-win match.

On whether he’d like to be remembered for that world record alone

A world record is a world record, but I’ll be more happy if I add to my Test hundreds (he has two) and people find them special.

On whether he’s worried that, now, fans are going to expect a flurry of sixes each time he takes guard

I can only do my best.

On a section of the media harping on his so-called disappointment at not getting the India captaincy (in the World Twenty20 and ODIs)

It’s an honour to captain the country and anybody who plays for his country would like to lead... But (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni is the captain and it’s important to put the team first in every respect and back him... We haven’t spoken about the captaincy, but there’s no problem between Dhoni and me.

On Dhoni as captain

He consults everybody and that’s a good quality... He’s just won the World Twenty20 and should be given the time and space to settle down. Whether it’s Dhoni or me or somebody else, what’s important is to take the team forward. Look, a captain will be remembered as good only if he does that.

On being Dhoni’s deputy

I try and take as much pressure off him as possible... Whatever the responsibility, I’m comfortable.

On just how tough is Twenty20

It’s the toughest, believe me... The pace is too hectic and there’s no breathing space... You’ve got to hit every ball, you’ve got to run on every ball and, if you’re a bowler, you’ve got to make sure you don’t get hit on every ball... The paying public gets entertained, but you’ve got to spare a thought for the players... After all the Twenty20, Saturday’s ODI seemed like a five-day Test match! (After a pause) Actually, because their expectations are now so high, fans at home are going to make the Twenty20 even tougher for us players.

On the ICC’s move to limit Twenty20 face-offs

Yes, it must not be overdone... The matches ought to be spaced out, say a couple every six months... Twenty20 is okay for fun, but I wouldn’t say it’s real cricket... Moreover, don’t forget we’re already playing too much.

On having to sit out of the Test XIs

It’s definitely frustrating, but making the XI isn’t in my hands... My job is to keep working hard, to stay focused... The top players regard Test cricket to be the real thing... That’s the biggest stage for me as well... (After a pause) There’s God and, eventually, things get balanced out. So...

Finally, on his mantra for not being overwhelmed by added pressure

(Laughs again) Yeah, now, everybody is calling me “Mr Six”... It’s nice to have such a label, but the way out is not to treat the high expectations as added pressure... I’ve got to respond to situations, not expectations... Of course, I’m aware of the need to be consistent.