In easily his most forgettable international outing, Yuvraj made just 11 off 21 deliveries in the World T20 final on Sunday. (Reuters)
Reuters/Mirpur, Bangladesh
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni sprang to teammate Yuvraj Singh’s defence after the left-hander’s struggle with the bat in the World Twenty20 final loss to Sri Lanka on Sunday. Struggling to hit or rotate strike, Yuvraj looked a shadow of the player who was the architect of India’s 20-over World Cup victory in 2007 and the 50 overs World Cup in 2011.
The lefthander, who hit England’s Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in the 2007 World Twenty20, used up 21 deliveries towards the end to score 11 runs, failing even to rotate strike and allow the set batsman and player-of-the-tournament Virat Kohli (77) to launch a late assault.
India managed 19 runs in the last four overs despite having eight wickets in hand and Kohli faced just eight balls in the last four overs before running himself out as India settled for a below-par 130 for four.
Dhoni conceded the last four overs probably cost India the trophy which would have completed a record limited overs treble for the 50-over World Cup and Champions Trophy holders. “The last four is the place where you really want to score as many runs as you can. That was an area we could not capitalise (on),” Dhoni said.
He refused, however, to blame Yuvraj who, barring a half-century against Australia, had a poor tournament. “He was trying, the thing is he was trying and that’s the most you can do. It happens to all, not just cricketers. Yuvi tried his best, it was an off day for him. It’s not easy for a batsman to go out and straight away start slogging.”
Asked why he did not promote himself ahead of Yuvraj, Dhoni said: “We wanted a left-right combination to make it slightly difficult for the bowlers to execute their plans. That was the reason why we had Yuvi at number four.”
The India captain preferred to credit the Sri Lankan bowlers for restricting his team. “We have to give credit to the Sri Lankan bowlers. They were looking for wide yorkers and all were perfect wide yorkers.
“Other than one wide delivery, they were right on the mark which made it difficult for us to score freely.”
Dhoni admitted to a sense of disappointment at the break, given that India had managed only 130 for 4 after being put in. “You always have to see if the opposition played better cricket than you or whether it was your fault. In this case, I thought they executed their plans well. But at the same time yes, there was a bit of disappointment. Also, we were able to defend something close to 130 in the Champions Trophy.
“In the T20 format, we had one more fielder outside. We knew we had our chances but it was that we had to bowl really well. I felt under lights, the wicket behaved slightly differently. It started coming on to the bat relatively well compared to the first innings.”
For all the heartbreak in the final, Dhoni said he was satisfied with the overall performance of the team in the competition. “The whole tournament, we played really well, right from the practice matches, and it was evident from the fact that we didn’t have too many changes in our side as the tournament progressed,” he said.
“Overall, I am very happy with how everybody performed. The spinners contributed when there was a bit of turn for them. Throughout the tournament, more often than not, they bowled well. And Virat has been brilliant for us for the last one, one-and-a-half years, even more. He is someone who has been very consistent.”
Don’t crucify Yuvraj, says Tendulkar
New Delhi: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar pleaded with fans not to crucify Yuvraj Singh for his lacklustre performance in the final of the World Twenty20 and warned against writing him off.
Tendulkar wrote on his Facebook page that Yuvraj, who took 21 balls for his 11 runs, had a tough day and should be criticised but should not be written off.
“It is the unpredictable nature of the game that makes cricket such an exciting sport. As cricketers, we always enjoy the applause when we succeed but it is the support and encouragement from fans during tough times that we appreciate the most,” said Tendulkar.
Tendulkar reminded the fans when they took pride in Yuvraj’s scintillating performances in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 50-over World Cup in 2011.
“All of us took pride in the heroics of Yuvi when we won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and his outstanding contribution in the ODI World Cup win in 2011 will always be cherished. Last evening, Yuvi had a tough day and he can be criticised. But he should not be crucified nor should he be written off,” he said.
Tendulkar said he admires Yuvraj’s indomitable spirit and hoped that the southpaw will bounce back strongly.
“I have been an admirer of Yuvi’s indomitable Spirit which has overcome many challenges, both on and off the field. Knowing Yuvi’s determination and ability to fight adversities, he will emerge stronger, proving his critics wrong, yet again.
“Yuvi, one off day cannot undermine your tremendous contribution in many sweet memories over the years. You may be down today but you are far from being out,” Tendulkar said.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also took to microblogging site Twitter to defend his teammate and close friend Yuvraj, who was the star of India’s triumph in the 2007 World Twenty20 and the 2011 World Cup (50 overs) at home.
“Shocking to c every1 blaming @yuvstrong12. Guys this man has won u 2wc’s. One of the rare match winners india has produced,” Harbhajan tweeted.
Harbhajan asked fans to analyse Yuvraj’s career in perspective. “From 1st 19wc to natwest to 2007t20 to 2011wc. Find me a player who has done so much in big matches. 1 bad day n we become so bitter,” Harbhajan said in his tweet.
