Yuvraj Singh is perhaps one of the best middle-order batter Indian cricket has ever witnessed, and in the hearts of Indian fans, he holds a special place. No one can forget the work he put into Indian cricket under his heart; legendary heroics in the 2011 World Cup. Battling undiagnosed cancer throughout the tournament, Yuvraj was an all-around brilliance for India as they won the series and got him the Player of the Series award. He was only diagnosed with the illness after the end of the tournament, a point that brought about a shift in his career.

“Would Have Been Proud Even If..”

Despite all this, Yuvraj’s contribution to Indian cricket remains unforgettable. In a recent podcast, Yuvraj’s father, Yograj Singh, talked about his son’s journey. He said that he would still be proud even if Yuvraj had died during the World Cup, provided India had won the cup. Such was the passion and sacrifice the southpaw showed.

“For our country, if Yuvraj Singh had died from cancer and had won India the World Cup, I would have been a proud father. I still am very proud of him. I have told him this over the phone as well. I wanted him to play even when he was spitting blood. I told him, ‘Don’t worry, you won’t die. Win this World Cup for India,'” Yograj said on Unfiltered by Samdish podcast.

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Yograj Singh Still Feels Yuvraj Could’ve Worked Harder

“Yuvraj Singh, if he had worked even 10 percent like his father, he would have become a great cricketer,” Yograj said.

Yuvraj Singh is regarded as one of the finest finishers in India, and his knocks during the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup will forever be remembered. In the latter, he scored 362 runs at a fabulous average of 90.50 with a strike rate of 86.19, making him a match-winner. However, Yograj still feels his son didn’t really understand the huge potential within himself.

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After the World Cup, Yuvraj battled bravely with lung cancer and again came out to don the Indian jersey a few times before finally announcing his retirement in 2019. Today, too, his grit, talent, and contributions to Indian cricket are being celebrated across the nation.