Virat Kohli’s rigid leadership approach may have indirectly shortened Yuvraj Singh’s cricket career, claims former cricketer Robin Uthappa. Yuvraj, who returned to cricket after defeating cancer, requested leniency in fitness standards to regain his place in the Indian team, but Kohli, then the team captain, allegedly refused.
In an interview on The Lallantop YouTube channel, Uthappa spoke about how Yuvraj Singh’s comeback after beating cancer was hindered by the stringent fitness demands imposed by Kohli and the team management. “Yuvraj, who helped India win two World Cups, deserved exceptions. He overcame cancer and made an effort to return to cricket. But neither the leadership group nor Kohli supported him when he struggled,” Uthappa stated.
Fitness Standards and Yuvraj’s Request
Following his recovery, Yuvraj reportedly asked for a two-point relaxation in the fitness test required for selection. Despite meeting the team’s fitness standards later, Yuvraj failed to regain consistent support or a permanent spot in the team.
His comeback was brief, marked by underwhelming performances, after which he was dropped. Uthappa emphasized that Kohli’s rigid leadership style left no room for exceptions, even for a player like Yuvraj who had proven his worth multiple times.
The Decline of a Cricket Legend
Yuvraj Singh, the Player of the Tournament in the 2011 ODI World Cup, was instrumental in India’s victory under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
After being diagnosed with cancer, Yuvraj underwent treatment in the US and returned to cricket, even scoring a century against England in an ODI. However, following a poor performance in the 2017 Champions Trophy, Yuvraj was dropped and eventually retired from all forms of cricket in 2019.
Uthappa concluded by saying that while Kohli’s leadership set high standards for fitness and discipline, it also distanced key players during their struggles, including his close friend Yuvraj Singh.