Yuvraj Singh thanks his fans

Happy Birthday Yuvraj Singh!

Happy Birthday Yuvraj Singh!


Indian cricket star Yuvraj Singh celebrates his 30th birthday today. Yuvraj, announced his arrival on the big stage with a blistering 84 and some electric fielding against Australia in a quarter-final match in the 2000 ICC Knockout in Nairobi.

Before long he was India's next pin-up boy. The hype grew when he and Mohammad Kaif revived a dead chase with a match-winning partnership in the final of the 2002 NatWest Series. His tendency to blow hot and cold has plagued Yuvraj through his international career, but when he's on song there's no stopping him. 

At the 2007 World Twenty20 he hit six sixes in an over against England's Stuart Broad—a feat performed only three times previously in any form of senior cricket, and previously never in an international match between two Test cricket nations. He was named the Man of the Tournament in the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Question marks still abound over his suitability in Test cricket, but in limited-overs cricket, he is among the very best in the modern game.

Yuvraj is also one of India's eligible bachelors. He was dating Bollywood actress Kim Sharma for a long time before breaking up with her. He has been linked to various actress like Deepika Padukone, Priety Zinta and more recently Shazahn Padamsee.

Here's wishing the maverick Yuvraj a very Happy Birthday and hope he contributes more to Indian cricket.

Yuvraj Singh is like Rajinikanth for Team India: Dhoni

Yuvraj Singh is like Rajinikanth for Team India: Dhoni

While addressing the media ahead of India's tour to Australia, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Team India is all set to take Australia by storm.

Dhoni on Monday held the press conference in Chennai along with coach Duncan Fletcher before leaving the country. We have palyed consistent cricket this year, so I am looking forward to India-Aussies series, said Dhoni. "I am not worried about opposition. We are focused on the team's performance."

"Hopefully we will keep controversies out of this series," he added.

On the current position of the Team, Dhoni said Sehwag plays an important role in the team as he can put pressure on opponents. When asked about Yuvraj Singh who has been dropped from the test squad, he said, "Yuvraj is like Rajinikanth for Team India and we wish both of them keep going."

On the comeback of Zaheer Khan, Coach Duncan Fletcher said warm-up games are important for Zaheer for his swashbuckling performance in the series.

The first test match between India and Australia will be held on December 26, 2011. The series will consist of four Tests and two Twenty20 matches.

Yuvraj Singh c Collingwood b Flintoff 58

Yuvraj Singh c Collingwood b Flintoff 58

Stuart: The 19th over of this World Twenty20 matchwill be bowled by Stuart Broad.

Ash: Yuvraj is ticking, Stu. I think he's going to get after young Broad.

Stuart: Well, he's got the licence to play his shots and… oh, good heavens, did you see that fly past the window then Ash? What was it?

Ash: Sixer!

Stuart: A what? That's not a bird. I rather think it might have been a great crested grebe.

Ash: No, the cricket. Yuvraj has hit a sixer.

Stuart: A what? Oh, a six. Yes, you're quite right. India were on 171 before that delivery and the scoreboard reads 177 now, so he must have cleared the ropes. What a strapping young man he is. Now, about that grebe, Ash?

Ash: Sixer!

Stuart: No, grebe. Wait. What's going on?

Ash: Another sixer, Stu. Massive hit. Just massive.

Stuart: Well, if it's gone for six then that's pretty obvious, isn't it? Of course it's a big hit.

Ash: He's flicked it off his legs. Just massive.

Stuart: He still only gets six for it, Ash.

Ash: He should get 12.

Stuart: But he doesn't. He gets six.

Ash: Sixer!

Stuart: Jeepers. Is that two in a row?

Ash: Three, Stu. Massive hit. Just massive.

Stuart: It wasn't that big a hit. It barely cleared the ropes.

Ash: It was another 12 that, Stu.

Stuart: It was, at most, a seven. Should I put the battenburg somewhere safe? I rather feel that one of these might come into our commentary box. Wouldn't want the cake to bear the brunt of the impact.

Ash: Sixer!

Stuart: Don't say it, Stu. Don't say it. They caught that in the first row. It wasn't massive.

Ash: Massive. Absolutely massive. Four in a row. Four of the biggest sixes you'll ever see.

Stuart: They really weren't. Yes, they cleared the ropes, but they're hardly setting any distance records, are they? Be honest.

Ash: Just massive.

Stuart: Have you had too much sugar? I think I will put this battenburg away. It's clearly...

Ash: Sixer!

Stuart: Don't say it. Don't you dare say it.

Ash: Absolutely massive.

Stuart: Are you blind? It went very high, I'll give you that, but it wasn't an unusually large hit. It's not the size that's significant here, it's the fact that he's hit five in a row.

Ash: This is magnificent stuff.

Stuart: Why? Because he's hit five sixes in a row or because of how far he's hit them?

Ash: Both, Stu.

Stuart: No. Wrong. It's solely because he's hit five in a row. The size of the hits is absolutely nothing to write home about. Your critical faculties are failing you. You're all hyped-up on battenburg and you've lost your equilibrium.

Ash: Sixer!

Stuart: Stop saying that! Why can't you just say "six"?

Ash: It's six sixers, Stu!

Stuart: Not sixer sixers then?

Ash: Six maximums.

Stuart: I think that's worse. I think I prefer sixer to maximum.

Ash: Astonishing stuff.

Stuart: Maximum does make a certain sense, I suppose, but I just don't like the sound of it.

Ash: Six sixers. Absolutely amazing.

Stuart: Please say "six".

I am absolutely fine, will be back soon: Yuvraj

I am absolutely fine, will be back soon: Yuvraj

NEW DELHI: Recuperating from a "non-malignant tumour" in his left lung, flamboyant Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh said he is "absolutely fine" and would be returning to cricket very soon.

The 29-year-old left-handed batsman withdrew from the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies after revealing that he is being treated for a tumour in his left lung.

After his mother Shabnam Singh made the revelation in a formal statement on Saturday, Yuvraj tweeted that he would be returning sooner rather than later.

"Overwhelmed with ur love n support. I am absolutely fine, just need to get match fitness and training will be back soon," he tweeted.

Yuvraj has been troubled by health issues since the World Cup, which India won, and has played just one Test match in England after that.

"Reports and scans then showed us that Yuvraj was dealing with something really serious. A golf-ball size lump was found over his left lung and doctors advised us to go in for more detailed scans."

"The initial reports suggested that Yuvraj had what in medical terms, is called a abnormal tumour called lymphoma over his left lung. The danger was, we were told, that it could be malignant," Shabnam had stated.

"When he returned from England... detailed scanning, and biopsy reports indicated that the tumour is non-malignant and non-threatening and can be treated through proper medication and therapy. In medical terms, Yuvraj is now in a much better state and on his way to a full recovery," Yuvraj's mother Shabnam said in a statement.

Shabnam further said Yuvraj did not want to rush his return to the side and that's why he informed BCCI about his unavailability for the West Indies series.

"Now his entire focus is to re-gain his full fitness. He is already preparing himself to play the one-day series in Australia. He doesn't want to rush things, he wants to be hundred percent fit before resuming his cricket for India."