World Cup-winning former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has weighed in on Team India’s recent cricketing setbacks, asserting that the 0-3 home whitewash by New Zealand was a bigger disappointment than the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) defeat to Australia. However, he refused to join the criticism aimed at senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
A Historic Low at Home
India’s Test journey has been turbulent over the past months, with a 0-3 drubbing by an under-strength New Zealand on home soil — a first in India’s cricketing history. This was followed by a 1-3 loss to Australia in the BGT.
“Losing to New Zealand is more hurtful because they lost 3-0 at home. That is not acceptable,” Yuvraj told PTI Videos. “Losing the BGT is still acceptable; India has won twice in Australia before. Australia has been a dominant side for years.”
Under Fire: Kohli and Rohit
India’s batting lineup has come under scrutiny, with the spotlight on Kohli and Rohit’s struggles. While Kohli scored a hundred in the BGT, he struggled with deliveries outside the off stump. Rohit, on the other hand, managed just 31 runs across the series and chose to drop himself for the final Test.
Yuvraj defended the stalwarts: “We are talking about greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, but people forget what they’ve achieved. They are among the greatest cricketers of this time. They are hurting more than us.”
Faith in the Team
Optimistic about a turnaround, Yuvraj placed his trust in the team and leadership, including new head coach Gautam Gambhir.
“I feel Gautam Gambhir as coach, Ajit Agarkar as selector, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah are the best minds in cricket right now. They will decide the future of Indian cricket,” he said.
Rohit’s Selflessness Praised
Yuvraj lauded Rohit for his decision to step down for the final Test, calling it a selfless act.
“I’ve never seen a captain drop himself when out of form. Rohit kept the team ahead of himself. This shows his greatness as a captain. Whether India wins or loses, Rohit will always be a great leader,” he added.
Criticism and Support
Urging restraint, Yuvraj highlighted the media’s role in critiquing players.
“When players don’t perform, it’s easy to criticize them. But it’s hard to support them. Media’s job is to criticize, but my job is to support my brothers. They’re my family.”
A Legend’s Perspective
Having represented India in 304 ODIs, 40 Tests, and 58 T20s, Yuvraj amassed over 11,000 runs across formats. Drawing from his experience, he concluded: “I am a student of the game. I give my opinion, and my opinion is to back these players, not bring them down.”
