“Fitter and stronger” Yuvraj Singh giving his all to find a place in 2019 World Cup squad

India’s tour to West Indies in mid-2017, which had largely gone unnoticed thanks to the Kohli-Kumble saga, was the last series for Yuvraj Singh in India colours. If the situation holds as the way it is now, it might prove to be the final appearance of the man, whose contribution to the Indian cricket is beyond ordinary. But the fighter that he is, Yuvraj continued his battle and made a statement of intent in this Vijay Hazare Trophy by scoring 264 runs at an average of 37.71. While it may not be enough for him to gain his spot back in the national team, it at least rekindles a hope in the Punjab batsman.

“All my cricket has been fearless. Obviously, you have to see the situation and play accordingly. But when I start hitting the ball out of the park and doing that consistently, then I feel that I am in a good space,” Yuvraj told CricketNext.

“My decision to make is that I want to go happily playing the game. I didn’t have a good domestic season last year, I had a bad IPL. I took a break and I thought that if I am looking to play another year or two years, I want to go to play this game happily because this game has given me everything.

“So I went to England for five weeks to a training camp this summer, I worked hard on my fitness. I was in Cirencester, at a habitat centre. I worked with a trainer called James, a former Marine, for five weeks. And when I got back home, I had another three weeks on my own; I had eight weeks of fitness before I started the season. I didn’t have too much good (batting) practice before coming here, I just played one practice game against Madhya Pradesh. But I just felt mentally very good.

“I felt that I was fitter, I was stronger compared to last year when I was not in a good mental space. The key for me has always been to be in a good mental space, that’s when I have played good cricket. I have just focussed on being in a good space and obviously, the results showed. I have been hitting the ball really well and scored a few consistent scores. Let’s see what happens now.”

When Yuvraj made a comeback to the ODI side at the start of 2017, he struck a majestic 150 in his second game back, against England in Cuttack. His stint lasted seven months in which he scored 372 runs from 10 ODI innings at 41.33 with a spectacular strike rate of 98.67. But once he was overlooked for the ODI series in Sri Lanka, he has been out of the team despite India’s desperate quest for a dependable middle-order batsman. And Yuvraj believes it might give him an opportunity to end his career on a high.

“Obviously, I am looking to play cricket till 2019, whatever cricket I get to play. Obviously, selection is not in my hands. What is in my hands is to work hard and get better at whatever I am doing – whether it’s batting, bowling, fielding or my fitness. From when I was dropped last year, I have been thinking that all I can do is focus on myself and my cricket.

“I was speaking to Sachin (Tendulkar), who has always been my mentor, and he asked me, ‘Why do we play the game? Just for the love of the game. Yes, we do want to play for India, but also, the game has given us everything’. I just want to enjoy the game, to appreciate that it has given me everything; I respect the game. I have cleared my fitness (yo-yo) test, I have bowled, I have got runs. I have done almost everything that is in my control. As I said, selection is not in my control. I am sure everyone is looking at the youngsters for building the team for this World Cup and the next World Cup. It’s up to the selectors and the coach/captain to decide, it is entirely their call. I just want to play whatever cricket I get to play till 2019, and then take a call.”