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When Yuvraj Singh was chosen for the T20 Internationals against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup draw, there were mixed reactions from his friends and well-wishers. Some liked the idea, whereas some showed their concern saying that it was too early for Yuvi to rush into international cricket. But then only Yuvraj knew where he stood and his magical return was made possible.
Yuvraj made his comeback in Chennai, coming in at no.4 and played a determined knock. He ended up with 34 runs of 26 balls, but it failed to save the match for India against the Kiwis. All the speculations regarding his fitness and form were put to rest as Yuvraj showed that he still had it. It was an emotional game for him as he mentioned after the match
This return by Yuvraj put him in some illustrious company of individuals who scripted their own reversal of fortune while still at their prime. I will now list down some of those individuals, who overcame injuries or medical conditions when all seemed lost and went on to scale great heights after their return.
Lance Armstrong (Former professional road racing cyclist)
The Incident: On 2nd October, 1996, then aged 25, Lance Armstrong found out he had testicular cancer. This cancer was at stage 3 and had by now spread to his stomach, lungs and the brain. His chances of survival were slim, and he had to have immediate chemotherapy and surgery to save his life. After the surgery took place where his diseased tumour was removed, the doctor s announced that Armstrong had a 40% chance of survival.
The Comeback: Throughout his battle with cancer, Lance Armstrong continued to maintain that he would be back, cycling competitively again. His comeback began in 1998 after intense chemotherapy. He would go on to win 7 consecutive Tour De France titles. He certainly kept his word and more! But there is an anti-climax to all this. All the titles were later stripped after he refused to bow down to the authorities with a dope probe. His career may have ended in a bad taste for him, but to the world he will always remain an inspiration.
Eric Abidal (Plays left back for Barcelona and France)
The Incident: On 15 March 2011, Barcelona announced that Abidal was diagnosed with a tumor in his liver which was found to be 4-cm long. Players and fans from all over the world wished for his recovery. He underwent surgery two days later. Additional details in relation to his condition were not released citing privacy concerns.
The Comeback: Seven weeks later, Eric Abidal was back on the pitch for Barcelona and also went on to play the Champions League Final that season on May 25 against Manchester United. Carlos Puyol, after the game, which Barcelona won 3-1, handed the armband to Eric Abidal, so he could lift the trophy for the Catalan Club. On 15 March 2012, it was announced that Abidal would have to undergo a liver transplant because of problems which were unresolved with the previous operation. He expects to be back by December and play football once more.
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi A.K.A Tiger Pataudi(Former Captain of the Indian Cricket Team)
The Incident: This is one incident from which Yuvraj could probably have taken some inspiration while he was on the road to recovery. Pataudi had a car accident in England in July 1961, lost sight in his right eye. This when he was aged 20. A shard of glass from the broken windscreen permanently damaged his right eye. The damage caused by this glass meant Pataudi would see a double image, and it was feared that this would mean the end of a promising cricketing career.
The comeback: He was determined to continue playing and set about learning how to play cricket with one eye. Six months later, he made his Test debut against England in Delhi. He would pull a cap over his damaged right eye and play watching the ball using his left only. He surprised everyone in the series when in the third test, he would go on to score a century. Of the 46 Tests he played, Pataudi was captain of the Indian Cricket Team for 40 of those matches.
Petr ?ech (Goalkeeper for Chelsea and Czech Republic)
The Incident: On 14 October 2006, ?ech and Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt both challenged for the ball inside Chelsea’s penalty area within the first minute of a league match at the Madejski Stadium. Hunt’s right knee hit ?ech’s head, leaving the keeper requiring treatment. ?ech would undergo surgery for a depressed skull fracture. Initially, the doctors were unaware of this but later realised that this injury nearly cost him his life. Due to the collision, he underwent severe headaches and was warned by the doctor to not return to early as it could be fatal. ?ech’s father would later come out and state that he would be out for at least a year.
The Comeback: ?ech made his comeback in a Premier League match against Liverpool on 20 January 2007, which Chelsea eventually lost 2–0, wearing a rugby style headguard. It was made by the Canterbury of New Zealand which caused frictions between the player and Adidas (Chelsea’s apparel sponsor) and Puma (Sponsors of Czech national team). This issue was resolved later. ?ech , after losing in his comeback game, would go on and not allow a goal for an approximate 810 minutes. He would later be awarded Premier Leauge player of the Month, his first, in recognition for keeping 8 Clean sheets in a row. ?ech since then has won 1 EPL title and also the Champions League, where he managed to save a penalty in extra time, and two penalties in the subsequent penalty shootout, which enabled Chelsea to win the Champions League.
Dougie Marillier (Zimbabwean Cricketer)
The Incident: He was one of the earliest players to popularize the “scoop” shot. He is credited for his invention of this shot which is famously known as the “Marillier”. Just as his career was taking off, however, disaster struck. Marillier was involved in a horrific car accident. A truck pulled out in front of the car he was in; and he broke both his femurs, suffered a compound fracture in the right leg, severed an artery there as well, and had a bone in his left leg crushed. Mariller would find himself on the wheelchair for the next 3 months. There were serious doubts about whether he would actually be able to play cricket once more.
The Comeback: He returned back for his school against Oakham School, one year after the incident. He would later go on to represent Zimbabwe at the national level. He famously “Marilliered” Glen Mcgrath, in the final over of a run chase when 15 runs were required in the last over, in an ODI game, where he almost led Zimbabwe to an impossible victory, falling short by one run. His two unorthodox boundary strokes, though, made him a legend, temporarily at least, with the shot becoming known as the Marillier shot. This shot is now more famously known as the “DilScoop”.
Salvador Cabanas (Paraguayan Striker)
The Incident: Cabañas was Club America’s star striker before he received a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head during a disagreement in a Mexico City bar on January 25, 2010. He still has the bullet lodged in his brain. He left the ICU in February and he tried to make a push for the Paraguyan World Cup Squad. The doctors desribed his recovery as miraculous but had reservations if he would be able to play so soon once again. He was left out of the World Cup Squad.
The Comeback: After a long period of recovery, he played for Paraguayan third division 12 de Octubre, the club where he began his career in 1997, on the opening day of the Primera B third-tier championship on April 15, 2012. He started the game and managed to complete 40 minutes before being substituted.
Notable Mentions:
Serena Williams: In July 2010, Serena would step on broken glass at a restaurant and tore a tendon on her right foot. 12 stitches on her right foot and 6 on her left and a surgery is what she had to undergo. Post- Surgery, Williams bounced back with renewed vigour. She would go on and win the US Open 2012 and also Gold at the London Olympics.
Kaka: At the age of 18, Kaka suffered a spinal fracture in a swimming pool incident. It could have ended his career as the incident was a likely paralysis inducing injury. His recovery though was nothing short of extraordinary. He would go on to be known as a magician on the ball. He would represent AC Milan, where he would be voted as the World’s Best Footballer in the year 2007. He also won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002. He currently plays for Real Madrid.
All these players and many more have been an inspiration to one and all. It teaches one of believing in oneself and having patience and faith that things can turn around. Also it showed that if you are determined to do something you can achieve it. All these athletes wanted to make a comeback and they did so in style. Here is hoping that Yuvraj Singh’s second innings proves to be just if not more fruitful than his first.
