Anyone who has seen Yuvraj Singh's last two one-day innings would ask, "Why is he not in your Test team?" He alone has the answer.
When on song he is a picture of poise. A high back lift, the flowing drives, that disdainful pull have earned him references to the Prince of the Caribbean. The entire range of his belligerent stroke-play was on display at Rajkot and then at Indore. The back injury he suffered at Rajkot was only successful at doubling the danger he posed. He wouldn't run; he'd rather deal in boundaries. His unbeaten 138 needed only 78 balls. Continue reading below
His off-field image has grabbed eyeballs and headlines in equal measure, but his batting doesn't seem to have suffered. He only needed his first international innings, a brutal 84 against Australia, to announce his arrival. He was all of 18. India was to be amazed with what he had to offer in the shorter version, as he scripted many a rearguard act, pulling off the most inconceivable of wins.
It was as early as 2002 in the NatWest Trophy, that Yuvraj Singh had arrived. Sourav Ganguly's retirement has all but ensured the series in England would be best remembered for his shirt-weaving act. But standing on the hallowed turf at Lord's was a stylish left-hander, who helped India do an encore of their victory in the first one-dayer against the same opposition.
Yuvraj's one-day form never really waned after that, and it became impossible to keep him out of the Test set-up either. No one ever doubted his ability, but the big Test lay ahead. He knew an extended run in Tests wasn't on the cards. His chance came on a greentop in Lahore in 2004. India were in disarray. Yuvraj replied with a century off 110 balls. Pakistan should know what it is to be at the receiving end of a Yuvraj assault. They have seen two such centuries since.
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Yet, every knock of assurance has been plagued by bouts of inconsistency. His one-day average hovers in the late 30s, his Test numbers no better. Yet he remains a match-winner, a thoroughbred in launching run chases. Even his fifties smell of greatness. Hundreds smack of a Kiss (remember Rock 'n roll all night?) One such was witnessed at Sydney, perhaps his best one-day knock to date.
To say that his best was yet to come would've been stupid. Along came the Twenty20 championship three years later, and Stuart Broad would reluctantly agree.
He has been India's middle-order mainstay for the past eight years. Over 200 matches and more than six thousand runs later, he is yet to seal a spot in the five-day team. Some say bring on spin and you'll get your answer. Others say he didn't get enough chances. They are right to an extent. He's played 23 Tests during this period.
But less than a year ago, he was celebrating not just a stunning hundred against Pakistan, but perhaps an overwhelming feeling, of finally having crossed over to the grand stage. Three more Tests and he was back among the contenders. Surely he can't go wrong this time. He is on the threshold of taking over from Sourav Ganguly. Yuvraj is not the same, but he has the capability of so much more.
Being gifted is not a loose reference for Yuvraj Singh. Not after two consecutive centuries against England in the ongoing one-day international series. Not after hitting six sixes in an over. Not after obliterating bowling attacks for eight years of limited overs cricket. Time has come. He needs to unwrap this gift in the Test arena, too.
