Mumbai : Middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh, back in the national team for three-Test series against Sri Lanka later this month, is practicing like a workaholic for the last seven days under supervision of his father Yograj Singh, himself a bowler of his time, reports DNA. The father-son duo worked out a regimented programme and stuck to it hard.
Two hours of swimming, three hours of batting, three more hours of fielding and as many hours of gymming, about 10 to 11 hours of preparation in a day was the daily routine for Yuvraj. There were more numbers… batting practice for 350-400 balls, 200 catches, 200 throws a day. The sweat, it seems, did not stop.
What's more, Yuvraj was up by 6 in the morning and on the bed by 10 in the night. Discipline! Yuvraj can give a lecture on this now. "I believe any cricketer, domestic or international, needs to practice for 8-10 hours every day," said Yograj."You have to get up at 6 in the morning for training, gymming, swimming, batting, fielding," he said. "It's not hard work but it was focused hard work."
Yograj now wants his son to work with him before every series. "That's what I have also done with Yuvi whenever he was with me. He was here for seven days and went back satisfied with his practice. I have always stood by my son whenever he is down. We've mutually decided that before every series, he will work with me for a week to 10 days," the former international cricketer said.
Yograj was upset that the media hounded him when he was not doing well. "There are thousands of cricketers who are not in form. No one writes about them. The media should understand the problem a cricketer goes through," he said and added that he discussed with Yuvraj as to how to handle the media.
The Daddy cool says Yuvraj was not getting runs because he was in the best of shape. "He had broken fingers. He had broken knee. He needed rest. The injuries don't heal quickly. You don't get healed overnight and he did not have enough rest. He has to be properly nourished. People like Yuvi, Sachin, Dhoni, Sehwag should be nourished properly. They have to be given enough rest."
Now is he confident that Yuvraj will get back among runs in Sri Lanka? "Class never dies. You will see Yuvraj in a way you may never have dreamt of." India will hope Yograj is right about his son.
