Yuvraj Singh

Karachi: Team India’s ODI (and Twenty20) vice-captain Yuvraj Singh spoke to The Telegraph for around half-an-hour at the Pearl Continental on Tuesday afternoon. He didn’t duck and his answers were candid.

The following are excerpts

Q You were rested for the Asia Cup opener, but have been in good touch, helping finish off the last two matches (48, 36 not out)...

A Often, I’ve been quite tight in the finishing-off stage... But, here, I’ve been quite free and positive... I’ve tried to enjoy my batting... In the past, I’ve consciously tried to remain not out... In the last match (against Bangladesh), I didn’t think of that... Just played freely.

Your last tour, to Australia didn’t go off well. You struggled in the Tests and it was only later in the ODIs that you got into rhythm. Why?

There are times in a season when you don’t play well... Sometimes, there are too many thoughts in your mind and there are too many people telling you too many things... I wouldn’t call it negative feedback, but too much of over-information... It’s best for the cricketer himself to try and understand his game... One does go through hiccups in one’s career and that’s the time to get back to the basics... Now, things are coming naturally out in the middle.

But you must have been disappointed at not making the most of opportunities in the first two Tests there?

I was, yes... I’d been in form before the tour and had really been looking forward to doing well... I accept I had two bad Tests and, then, again suffered a knee injury (before the third Test)... Nothing worse could’ve happened and it definitely wasn’t a great tour for me mentally and physically... That wickets in Australia are great to bat on, once you’ve got used to the bounce and the swing, made me more disappointed... The chance to carry forward the pre-tour form came and went (in the Test series)...

When did you start feeling comfortable on that tour?

During my innings of 26 versus Australia in Adelaide... We lost that ODI, but I felt good... My feet moved better and I got the shots off the middle of the bat.

Were you, on that tour, distracted by anything off the field?

(Grins) When I’ve done well, some have said that off the field distractions have helped... When I haven’t, then some have blamed off the field distractions... I’m getting used to all this... Look, for me, the game is most important... I’m focused... Off the field, everybody has a private life and people should allow me my space. Let me assure you that my priorities aren’t mixed up.

You aren’t a regular in the Test XI. When will that happen?

Don’t know... I’ll probably have to ask some of the seniors to retire! Getting just one or two Tests at a time has made me insecure... Irrespective of the format, every player needs to feel secure. Otherwise, he won’t be able to give off his best... Of course, I’m not blaming anybody... I’ve myself got to make full use of every opportunity at the Test level... Having said that, I can only assess myself properly after I’ve played 8-10 Tests in a year... Security in the mind is a critical element.

[While Yuvraj has already played 209 ODIs, his number of Tests stands at 23.]

Clearly, you need to shake off the label of a one-day cricketer...

It’s disappointing (to be seen as a one-day specialist), but what can I do? I’ve been trying my best for the past couple of years and will continue to do so. My Dad (Yograj) always tells me ‘try, try till you die’... I’m following his advice.

Does not being a regular in Tests put you under pressure in the ODIs?

No... No... My frame of mind is different when I’m playing the ODIs and it’s different when it’s Test cricket... In the ODIs, I’m a lot more confident... Feel secure... Have a game plan... Indeed, I understand my game really well in one-day cricket... The more Test cricket I play, the more I’ll understand my game at that level too.

The younger lot — Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla and Ishant Sharma for example — is doing particularly well. Is it because they’re more confident of their abilities than most cricketers of the earlier generation?

I love the way they are and the way they play... It’s a super bunch, willing to learn... Because of his background, most people thought Praveen Kumar wouldn’t be knowing the finer points... But, as it turned out, they were wrong... Praveen knows quite a bit about cricket... It’s not easy to come back after an injury/surgery, but Suresh has done so very well... I keep telling Rohit that he has been blessed with a skilful mind at such a young age and that he should use it to the fullest... Gautam’s graph is rising and that’s because he’s such a hard worker.

What’s the best way of handling youngsters?

Making them feel secure by giving them ample opportunities. The more secure the youngsters are, the better they will perform... You’ve got to give them confidence, make them feel welcome in the dressing room. They’ve got to be made to feel that they belong...

Where would you place this team vis-a-vis the many others you’ve been a part of?

The best after the one which reached the 2003 World Cup final (under Sourav Ganguly).

You’ve been the ODI (and Twenty20) vice-captain for a while now. Is there a clear role for you?

MS (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) is doing a good job and, so, I don’t really have to do much... I do, however, speak to the younger lot... Give them confidence, share my experiences...

Some feel that, eventually, the 50-over game will disappear and it will only be Test cricket and Twenty20. Do you agree?

Could happen, because people today want entertainment... And, they want it fast... It’s not that the 50-over game doesn’t have its charm... You can come back in a 50-over game, but it’s very difficult doing that in Twenty20.

The Sri Lankan captain (Mahela Jayawardene) and the vice-captain (Kumara Sangakkara) played under you in the IPL... That must make it easier when the strategy for Thursday’s face-off is finalised?

(Grins) Yes, I’ve got some thoughts... Equally, they’ll have something more on me.

You’ll soon be completing eight years at the international level. What has the journey from Nairobi to Karachi taught you?

I’ve learnt a lot... Initially, I used to be a nervous starter in the ODIs, not so now... I’ve put a price on my wicket... Also, I’ve realised that the longer I stay at the wicket, the bigger the threat to the opposition... I understand situations better, get to work around them better... I’m trying to become both a better person and a better cricketer... Early on, I’d be brash... Today, there’s maturity.

Lastly, how are you looking at the next six-odd months?

There’s a lot of Test cricket coming up, in Sri Lanka, at home and, then, in Pakistan... I hope to play as many Tests as possible... I do have goals.