Sachin Tendulkar's advice motivates Yuvraj Singh to keep playing cricket

Sachin Tendulkar giving advice to Yuvraj Singh in the nets

Yuvraj Singh, who is 33 now, still hopes that he can play cricket in the national colours once again. It has been around 18 months since he last played for India; his last appearance being in the World T20 final against Sri Lanka in 2014.

Yuvraj is now standing in for Punjab skipper Harbhajan Singh, who earned a recall to the national team for the South Africa series. He is hoping to lead his state to glory in the Ranji Trophy this season.

According to a report on ESPNCricinfo, Yuvraj was talking to the media in Mumbai, before Punjab took on Mumbai in their second Ranji match. He mentioned he wants to perform well in the domestic scene while he enjoys, and work his way back into the Indian dressing room. “Just want to play and enjoy my cricket."

“If I get an opportunity to come back and play for India I look forward to that. These are the games which will give me an opportunity to come back, so I am trying my best. I had six weeks of good off-season training and practicing so hopefully it comes through in the games,” Yuvraj said.

It is not an easy job for a player like Yuvraj to go back to the domestic level, where everything is different from the international scene, which he has been so used to in the past. But, Yuvraj recounts a talk he had with Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.

"I was speaking to Sachin last year and he said that obviously the most important thing is to play for India but don't forget to enjoy the game. As young kids we always played the game to enjoy it, we never knew that we were going to play for India. I enjoy playing cricket and it was always my passion as a young kid, so as long as I am enjoying it, I want to play," Yuvraj said.

Fans of Yuvraj will hope that he can continue his form from Ranji 2014/15 this season too and impress the selectors in time for the 2016 World T20. He had amassed 671 runs in seven matches at an average of 55.91. He had started the season with three consecutive centuries in the first three games.

“A World Cup is a World Cup, whether it is T20 or 50 overs. It's always an honour to play another World Cup. (But) I am not thinking so far ahead, I am just thinking (about it) game by game, how my game is going and how I can improve. So that's what my target is,” Yuvraj described.

After the first round of Ranji matches, Punjab is sitting on top of the table of Group B with seven points won after beating Railways by an innings. Yuvraj will be hoping to play a key role in helping Punjab overcome Mumbai and thus lead his state into the knockouts.