Yuvraj’s form and fitness is a cause for concern

Valentine Day is still four days away, but Yuvraj Singh is getting to know pyaar ke side effects.

Valentine Day is still four days away, but Yuvraj Singh is getting to know pyaar ke side effects. Courtesy the DJ at the MCG’s deliberate selection, the Indian vice-captain walked up the famous number ‘pyaar karke pachtaya’. And it was difficult to ignore the posters on the stands saying ‘Yuvraj forget Deepika, concentrate on cricket’.

It’s rather unfortunate because Yuvraj and Deepika Padukone have never displayed their affection in public, and that’s their private matter too, but all these silly tongues are wagging because Yuvi’s bat is not talking at all. The dashing left-hander has suffered a major drop in his form since his entry to Australia and has now suffered nine consecutive batting failures—four innings in Test matches, three innings of the side games in Junction Oval in Melbourne and Canberra and two ODI innings—with the top score of 12.

It’s important to note that this new Team India have been depending on him a lot to fire in the middle overs. In a relatively less-pressure situation Yuvraj again failed to spend time in the middle today, falling to Stuart Clark for just three from 14 balls after he took as many as eight deliveries to scamper through a single. Yuvraj’s dismissal actually put India in a little spot of bother with two new men at the crease. In all probability, he will play the day after against the Sri Lankans but that should really be his last call in this team.

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It may not be too exaggerated to suggest that but even Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly or Rahul Dravid wouldn’t have survived calls of retirement if they had such compelling failures. With as many talented youngsters are waiting in the wings in this crowded competition for the middle-order, the onus is on Yuvraj to really get going while skipper MS Dhoni will find it difficult to ignore questions raised against his deputy.

There also seems to be certain concern with Yuvraj’s troublesome left knee. Coach Lalchand Rajput suggested that if “Yuvraj played the Brisbane one-dayer, it means he is fit” but Dhoni admitted that “Yuvraj is a difficult player to keep out and we might want to play him if he’s just 80 per cent or so fit.”

Today, Yuvraj, fielding out of his customary point position, was protected at mid-off and mid-on regions. The crowd egged him on to stop deliveries and finally cheered loud when he managed one. Clearly, Yuvraj does not deserve this—he’s one of the best batsmen and fielders in this Indian team but he’s presently not yet there with his form and fitness. To linger him on in such situations is an embarrassment for everyone. The only way he can reverse the tide is by hitting runs. Nothing less will do.