Yuvraj relives Kingston moments
Yuvraj relives Kingston moments
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Source: PTI
Image Source: AFP
St. Kitts: Yuvraj Singh would have rated the Kingston innings as his best one-day knock ever had he not tripped just inches before the finishing line.
"I would have rated it as the best if we had won the game. If we had pulled it off, it would have been incredible," Yuvraj said after nets on Monday.
The 24-year-old, who scored a valiant 93, relived the final moments when he brought his team within two runs of securing a second straight win against West Indies which would have also bolstered India's 17-match winning record while chasing.
"It was a slow wicket and I was playing with the tail. I told Munaf (Patel) if he wanted to block he should block. Scoring 11 runs in the final over was no problem. I just told him to make sure he does not hit the ball in the air and that I would take chances in the last over." But as luck would have it, Yuvraj, after scoring two consecutive boundaries, one of which was smacked belligerently through the covers, played all over the low full-toss of Dwanye Bravo and was clean bowled.
"I was short of words. I did not know what to say, what to do. I was shattered," said Yuvraj, who sat on his hunches in utter disbelief as the West Indies team team broke into wild celebration.
"You did not want to lose early wickets. We lost four so that was not good. But not everytime a Dhoni will fire or Dravid will do the job. You can't blame anyone."
"It was my job to take India to victory. We lost the game and I hold myself responsible," said the left-hander, who has earned the distinction of a ruthless finisher in ODIs after fashioning many recent wins and playing a crucial role in India's mastery over chasing totals.
Yuvraj has taken his game to a different level in the last 10 months during which he has cemented his place not only in one-dayers but also in Tests. It took him a good six years to translate his potential into a match winner.
"I have been wanting to improve, take my game to a certain level. I am now beginning to do it. I have been talking to Greg (Chappell) mentally about batting, been thinking well and hitting the ball straight."
"Playing up the order has helped. I now want to play till the end and not panic whatever the run rate is. There are less thoughts (crowding) my mind when I am batting," said the Punjab batsman who won three back-to-back man of the series awards in ODIs.
Now that Yuvraj is one of the seniors, he is willing to guide the youngsters who are beginning to take up a lot of spots in the team. "I don't want to go to them and tell them. If they want to talk to me, I am there. But boys do talk to me and I like to pass on my experience of last six years." The Indian team came for an extended practice session in the afternoon on Monday and Yuvraj said it was intended to look into areas where the team had slipped up.
"You have lost a game so there must be some areas in which you struggled. It was important thus that we came to the nets and sorted it out." Yuvraj though skipped the nets as he was suffering from a stiff back.
"It's nothing serious, I just wanted to make sure it's not aggravated ahead of the match."
? Copyright 2006 PTI. All rights reserved.
Yuvraj relives Kingston moments
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Source: PTI
Image Source: AFP
St. Kitts: Yuvraj Singh would have rated the Kingston innings as his best one-day knock ever had he not tripped just inches before the finishing line.
"I would have rated it as the best if we had won the game. If we had pulled it off, it would have been incredible," Yuvraj said after nets on Monday.
The 24-year-old, who scored a valiant 93, relived the final moments when he brought his team within two runs of securing a second straight win against West Indies which would have also bolstered India's 17-match winning record while chasing.
"It was a slow wicket and I was playing with the tail. I told Munaf (Patel) if he wanted to block he should block. Scoring 11 runs in the final over was no problem. I just told him to make sure he does not hit the ball in the air and that I would take chances in the last over." But as luck would have it, Yuvraj, after scoring two consecutive boundaries, one of which was smacked belligerently through the covers, played all over the low full-toss of Dwanye Bravo and was clean bowled.
"I was short of words. I did not know what to say, what to do. I was shattered," said Yuvraj, who sat on his hunches in utter disbelief as the West Indies team team broke into wild celebration.
"It was my job to take India to victory. We lost the game and I hold myself responsible," said the left-hander, who has earned the distinction of a ruthless finisher in ODIs after fashioning many recent wins and playing a crucial role in India's mastery over chasing totals.
Yuvraj has taken his game to a different level in the last 10 months during which he has cemented his place not only in one-dayers but also in Tests. It took him a good six years to translate his potential into a match winner.
"I have been wanting to improve, take my game to a certain level. I am now beginning to do it. I have been talking to Greg (Chappell) mentally about batting, been thinking well and hitting the ball straight."
"Playing up the order has helped. I now want to play till the end and not panic whatever the run rate is. There are less thoughts (crowding) my mind when I am batting," said the Punjab batsman who won three back-to-back man of the series awards in ODIs.
Now that Yuvraj is one of the seniors, he is willing to guide the youngsters who are beginning to take up a lot of spots in the team. "I don't want to go to them and tell them. If they want to talk to me, I am there. But boys do talk to me and I like to pass on my experience of last six years." The Indian team came for an extended practice session in the afternoon on Monday and Yuvraj said it was intended to look into areas where the team had slipped up.
"You have lost a game so there must be some areas in which you struggled. It was important thus that we came to the nets and sorted it out." Yuvraj though skipped the nets as he was suffering from a stiff back.
"It's nothing serious, I just wanted to make sure it's not aggravated ahead of the match."
? Copyright 2006 PTI. All rights reserved.
