Yuvraj Singh is celebrated as one of the finest white-ball players in cricket history, a true match-winner who proved his worth on the grandest stage. He played a key role in India’s victories in the T20I and ODI World Cups under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. However, his cricketing journey took a heartbreaking turn when he was diagnosed with lung cancer after the 2011 World Cup. While Yuvraj made a strong recovery and returned to the Indian team in December 2012, his career gradually faded, and he retired in June 2019 after being repeatedly overlooked by the selectors.
Yuvraj wasn’t picked for the 2013 Champions Trophy but didn’t give up. He made another comeback attempt after Virat Kohli became captain, even earning a spot in the 2017 Champions Trophy squad. Unfortunately, he didn’t perform well in the tournament, which led to his exit from the team.
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa shared his perspective on Yuvraj’s journey during an interview on ‘Lallantop.’ Speaking about Virat Kohli’s captaincy style, Uthappa said:
“Virat’s leadership was different. He had a high standard for fitness, diet, and discipline, and everyone had to match that level. There are two types of leaders—one who says ‘this is the standard, reach it,’ and another who says ‘I will meet you at your level and help you grow.’ Both approaches work, but their impact on players is different. Some players may feel valued, while others may feel left out.”
Uthappa explained how this approach impacted Yuvraj, especially after his battle with cancer. “Take Yuvi Pa’s example. Here’s a man who fought cancer and was trying to return to international cricket. He was instrumental in winning us two World Cups and played a huge role in those victories. But when you become captain and say his lung capacity has decreased, it’s tough. You’ve seen his struggles. While maintaining standards is important, sometimes there should be exceptions. Yuvraj deserved to be one because he overcame a life-threatening challenge and delivered for the team.”
Uthappa also mentioned that Yuvraj had asked for some concessions in the fitness test due to his condition but was denied. “Yuvi requested a two-point relaxation in the fitness test, but it wasn’t granted. He still took the test, passed it, got into the team, but had a lean tournament. After that, he was dropped completely and wasn’t entertained again. At that time, Virat was the captain, and decisions were made based on his strong personality and style of leadership.”
Uthappa concluded by saying, “I haven’t played much under Virat as captain, but his style was very ‘my way or the highway.’ Leadership is not just about results; it’s also about how you treat your players.”
