Ex-India coach reveals Yuvraj Singh's spot wasn't guaranteed in 2011 World Cup
"I was always very fond of Yuvraj. He used to frustrate the hell out of me sometimes, but I just loved him. He was good. I just wanted him to be scoring runs all the time because watching him bat was amazing," Kirsten said.Kirsten credited mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton for playing a key role in helping Yuvraj prepare for the tournament-both physically and mentally."There was a journey he had to walk, and credit to Paddy. Paddy did a lot of work with Yuvi to get him ready. Yuvi himself made some key decisions to prepare for the World Cup," Kirsten added.Yuvraj's numbers at the tournament were outstanding. He batted in eight innings, amassing 362 runs at an average of 90.50, including one century and four fifties. One of his standout performances came against the West Indies in Chennai, where he scored 113 off 123 balls. He also played vital knocks against England, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Australia.In the quarterfinal against Australia in Ahmedabad, Yuvraj's unbeaten 57 helped India knock out the defending champions. With the ball, he was just as effective-his left-arm spin yielding 15 wickets at an average of 25.13. He took 5 for 31 against Ireland and claimed two wickets each in all three knockout games.Across his career, Yuvraj played 304 ODIs for India, scoring 8,701 runs with 14 centuries and 52 fifties. Yet, his performance at the 2011 World Cup remains the crown jewel. From being a doubtful starter to emerging as the tournament's standout performer, Yuvraj's journey is nothing short of inspiring.His story is a testament to the power of belief, hard work, and the right support system. Today, Yuvraj is remembered not just as a match-winner, but as a fighter who rose to the occasion when India needed him the most.- EndsYou May Also Like
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