A Yuvi fan: To Be or Not To Be

In a few hours’ time, the country shall be afflicted with the ailment commonly referred to as “IPL-fever”. Some of the symptoms of this ailment are defensive bowling, indulging in a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am style of batting, and a celebration of flat track bullies, among others.

Looking at the last listed symptom, that is, celebration of flat track bullies, one of the foremost names that comes to mind is that of Yuvraj Singh. Some may be aghast at this claim, others would be in slight agreement while a select few would agree vehemently with it. There has been widespread anger at the left-handed batsmen from Punjab following the final of the World T20, though chances are that this anger shall not last. As a friend rightly pointed out to me, he will probably dominate a sub-standard bowler, thus replacing the bitter memories with a couple of glamorous sixes hit over mid-wicket.

Once the best fielder in the team and more energetic than Arvind Kejriwal, Yuvraj has fallen and fallen hard from the pedestals he was once placed on. He towered above bowlers, dispatching them with ease and grace through all parts of the ground. Today, however, he seems hell bent upon testing the faith of those who have stayed devoted to him following one night in Durban seven years ago with his lacklustre performances that do nothing but tarnish the image of this greatly talented player.

He will have his moments of brilliance that will remind us of the Yuvi we once knew, sending us back into the spiral of delusion that he is back. Yet, the inevitable must happen. He shall have a bad innings, then another, then another. Then the good one, which starts the cycle all over again.

The IPL shall serve him well. It usually has. Having fetched a hefty fourteen crore in the auctions for this season, he is guaranteed a good amount of playing time in the RCB jersey. He shall saunter in with the same old swagger, hitting the first couple of balls past the boundary line and giving the bowler that characteristic Yuvi grin. What happens next, nobody knows. He either continues down the same path, scoring a solid 70-odd in around 40 balls. Or he self destructs, playing the next few balls looking more awkward than Manmohan Singh in a kilt, eventually getting out to a sub par delivery which he foolishly played into the hands of cover. He will then attack the ground with his bat, wishing he put in an equal amount of strength in his shot.

Being a Yuvraj fan is difficult. Everyone starts out as one. They are taken in by the wristy flicks, the arrogant pulls, the elegant cover drives and the dominating lofted shots. Yet the failures come thick and fast, and with them comes the cynicism that takes over all talks regarding him. Many see him as the go to guy of the BCCI. He’s always there when they need him, but he is cast aside just as easily.

He will be picked again and again, for the BCCI seem to have a will stronger than Rajnikanth to prove destiny wrong. The BCCI and to an extent the majority of the Indian cricket-watching populations seems to live in the eternal hope that (to paraphrase the movie Karan Arjun) “Mera Yuvi Aayega, zameen ki chaati phad ke aayega, asmaan ka seena cheer ke aayega“.

Well for their sake and for his, let’s hope it happens.