India may have lost the second Twenty20 game by a solitary run against New Zealand on Tuesday, but the team's biggest consolation was the successful return of Yuvraj Singh after his battle with cancer.
The left-handed batsman made an emotional comeback after his treatment for a rare germ cell cancer. Chasing a target of 168 runs in 20 overs, Yuvraj scored 34 off 26 balls, with 1 four and 2 sixes, in his typical aggressive style.
Sports commentators had raised many questions about Yuvraj's selection because he had seen very little playing time while he underwent treatment. The chairman of selectors, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, was unable to justify Yuvraj's inclusion on the team with any conviction â €" the move was seen by observers as more emotional than rational.
“I can understand the sympathy wave for Yuvraj. But his selection baffles me,†Aunshuman Gaekwad, a former coach of the Indian team, said in an interview before the match . “He is an excellent batsman, even a match-winner on his day, but you can't pick a player who has overcome a battle against cancer straight in the national team, when he has neither proved his fitness nor played any match.â€
While all his teammates gave him a warm welcome and said encouraging words, Yuvraj was obviously keen to prove himself, telling people how eager he was to play for India again after a long absence. Unfortunately, he didn't bowl a ball in the first Twenty20 match, in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, as it was called off because of rain.
Rain in Chennai threatened to disrupt the second match, too, but luckily for Yuvraj it was played for the full quota of 40 overs. And Yuvra j was unlikely to miss the opportunity. Besides bowling those two tight overs when Brendon McCullum (who was a top scorer in New Zealand's innings with a whirlwind 91) was on the rampage, Yuvraj also fielded brilliantly, just like the Yuvraj of old.
Yuvraj has already been chosen for India's squad for the fourth ICC World Twenty20 to be played in Sri Lanka from Sept. 18 to Oct. 7. Eyebrows were raised again about his selection for this global event, featuring 12 teams. But his performance Tuesday may have convinced critics of Yuvraj's fitness and ability to deliver.
“I admit I was against Yuvraj's selection,†said Mr. Gaekwad after the Chennai game. “And I was also apprehensive about his health. He has just come back after overcoming a battle against cancer, and you can't take any chance with his health.
“But I must say he played very well. He was hitting the ball comfortably, as usual, and there were no signs that he has come back overcoming a seri ous health problem. It was almost like the same old, vintage Yuvraj. If he bats like this in Sri Lanka, opponents are really in for some trouble.â€
