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News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
BCCI Selectors Almost Dropped Yuvraj Singh From 2011 WC Squad: 'Dhoni Was...'
Last Updated: Gary Kirsten revealed BCCI selectors debated Yuvraj Singh's inclusion in India's 2011 World Cup squad. Kirsten and Dhoni were keen on Yuvraj, who became Player of the Tournament. India's 2011 World Cup-winning coach, Gary Kirsten, has revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors heavily debated the selection of Yuvraj Singh, saying it was 'flipping close'. Kirsten said he and captain MS Dhoni were 'very keen' to have him in, and their choice prevailed. Yuvraj was the Player of the Tournament as India ended their 28-year-long drought of an ICC ODI World Cup title, kicking off a new wave of fandom for the sport in the country. The left-hander from Punjab scored 362 runs in eight innings at an average of over 90 while also picking 15 wickets with his part-time spin with an economy rate of just over five. His exploits included three consecutive 50s in the groups stages, a match-winning fourth against Australia in the quarter-final and a century against the West Indies in between. He did all that while suffering from cancer, which was only diagnosed after the tournament ended. 'Thank goodness we picked him because it was flipping close, he was. It was not a slam-dunk selection. The selectors kind of debated around the 15 players. I was very keen to have him in the team, as was Dhoni, because of the experience that he brought to the group. And look at the World Cup he ended up having," Kirsten told 'I was always very fond of Yuvraj. We had this kind of great relationship where like, he used to frustrate the hell out of me sometimes, but I just loved him. He was good. I just want him to be scoring runs all the time because when I watch him bat, it's just like amazing to watch. But there was a journey he had to walk, and credit to Paddy," added Kirsten. 'Paddy did a lot of work with Yuvi to get him ready for that World Cup. Yuvi himself made some key decisions around getting himself prepared and ready for the World Cup," Kirsten added. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'MS Dhoni and I were ...': Yuvraj Singh nearly missed 2011 World Cup; ex-India head coach Gary Kirsten opens up
Yuvraj Singh of the Indian cricket team (Photo by) Former India head coach Gary Kirsten has disclosed that Yuvraj Singh nearly missed being selected for the 2011 World Cup cricket team. The selection of Yuvraj Singh, who later became the Player of the Tournament in the 2011 ODI World Cup, was not a straightforward decision for the national selectors. Kirsten and then-captain MS Dhoni played crucial roles in ensuring Yuvraj's inclusion in the team. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "Thank goodness we picked him because it was flipping close, he was. It was not a slam-dunk selection. The selectors kind of debated around the 15 players. I was very keen to have him in the team as was Dhoni, because of the experience that he brought to the group. And look at the World Cup he ended up having," Kirsten told Poll Do you believe mental conditioning helped Yuvraj Singh in the World Cup? Definitely, it was crucial Maybe, but not entirely Not really, performance comes from practice Unsure, need more information "I was always very fond of Yuvraj. We had this kind of great relationship where like, he used to frustrate the hell out of me sometimes, but I just loved him. He was good. I just want him to be scoring runs all the time because when I watch him bat, it's just like amazing to watch. But there was a journey he had to walk and credit to Paddy (Upton)." Mental conditioning and strategic leadership coach Paddy Upton worked extensively with Yuvraj to prepare him for the tournament, which preceded his battle with cancer. "Paddy did a lot of work with Yuvi to get him ready for that World Cup. Yuvi himself made some key decisions around getting himself prepared and ready for the World Cup," he added. After experiencing a quiet period in 2010, Yuvraj delivered an outstanding performance in the World Cup, scoring 362 runs with a strike rate exceeding 86 and taking 15 wickets. Tracing Moeen Ali's steps in Birmingham His remarkable achievements included a century against West Indies in Chennai and a combined five-wicket haul and half-century against Ireland. Yuvraj's crucial half-century in Ahmedabad helped eliminate defending champions Australia in the quarter-finals. He continued his all-round performance by taking two wickets in each knockout game. The tournament concluded with Yuvraj at the non-striker's end as Dhoni hit the winning six against Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hans India
a day ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Yuvraj Singh Almost Missed 2011 World Cup — Gary Kirsten Reveals Shocking Detail
India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Yuvraj Singh was a big reason for the win. But many people don't know he was almost not picked for the team. Coach Gary Kirsten said that some selectors didn't want Yuvraj in the team. But Kirsten and captain MS Dhoni believed in him. They wanted him because he had experience and skill. Kirsten said, 'Thank goodness we picked him.' Yuvraj later became the Player of the Tournament! In 2010, Yuvraj was not playing well. But he worked hard to get better. He got help from Paddy Upton, the team's mental coach. They helped him get ready. In the 2011 World Cup: He scored 362 runs Took 15 wickets Hit a century against West Indies Scored 50 runs and took 5 wickets against Ireland Helped India beat Australia in the quarter-final Took wickets in every knockout match Was on the field when Dhoni hit the winning six in the final This World Cup was very special for Yuvraj. After the tournament, he found out he had cancer. But his performance showed how strong and talented he was. Kirsten said that sometimes Yuvraj could be difficult, but he always enjoyed watching him bat. He called Yuvraj's World Cup story amazing.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Yuvraj Singh wasn't a certainty for selectors in India's 2011 World Cup squad, reveals Gary Kirsten: ‘Thank goodness we picked him'
Imagine how India would have coped without Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 ODI World Cup. Then-India head coach Gary Kirsten has now revealed that the national selectors weren't exactly certain of marking a spot for Yuvraj for the marquee home World Cup, that he would eventually dominate to become the Player of the Tournament. Speaking to Kirsten revealed that if it were not for his and then skipper MS Dhoni's insistence, the script could indeed have been a lot different. 'Thank goodness we picked him because it was flipping close, he was. It was not a slam-dunk selection. The selectors kind of debated around the 15 players. I was very keen to have him in the team as was Dhoni, because of the experience that he brought to the group. And look at the World Cup he ended up having,' revealed Kirsten. 'I was always very fond of Yuvraj. We had this kind of great relationship where like, he used to frustrate the hell out of me sometimes, but I just loved him. He was good. I just want him to be scoring runs all the time because when I watch him bat, it's just like amazing to watch. But there was a journey he had to walk and credit to Paddy (Upton),' added Kirsten. Kirsten added that Upton (mental conditioning and strategic leadership coach) was integral to get Yuvraj in prime shape for the tournament, his last major event before a life-threatening cancer hampered the next phase of his international career. 'Paddy did a lot of work with Yuvi to get him ready for that World Cup. Yuvi himself made some key decisions around getting himself prepared and ready for the World Cup,' the former India coach added. After a lull in 2010, Yuvraj turned up in full force in the World Cup, racking 362 runs with a strike rate above 86 besides 15 wickets in the tournament. Yuvraj scored a century against the West Indies in sultry Chennai while also claiming a five-wicket haul and a half-century in a league game against Ireland. However, Yuvraj's special knock came against defending champs Australia, who were knocked out with his match-winning half-century in the quarter-final match in Ahmedabad. The star all-rounder also turned up with two wickets each in every knockout game and was memorably at the non-striker's end when his captain Dhoni added the finishing touches with an iconic six in the final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
India Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Ex-India coach reveals Yuvraj Singh's spot wasn't guaranteed in 2011 World Cup
Despite being one of India's most gifted white-ball cricketers, Yuvraj Singh was not a certainty for the 2011 ODI World Cup squad. In a recent revelation, former India head coach Gary Kirsten admitted that Yuvraj's selection had been a subject of internal debate, with real doubts over whether he should make the final cut. But both Kirsten and captain MS Dhoni threw their weight behind the flamboyant left-hander—a call that would go down as one of Indian cricket's finest went on to win the 2011 World Cup, ending a 28-year title drought. The final, played at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, saw India defeat Sri Lanka by six wickets. It was a proud moment for the nation, and Yuvraj Singh played a central role in scripting that was named Player of the Tournament for his stellar all-round performance-scoring 362 runs and taking 15 wickets. Behind those numbers, however, was a story of hard work and personal transformation. In a conversation with Kirsten reflected on Yuvraj's impact, saying he always enjoyed watching him bat, despite the occasional frustration. "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 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 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 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 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 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
