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Yuvraj Singh and the joy of old heroes in India vs Australia 2015-16

Watching Yuvraj Singh in action after two years on the side line is enough to bring back happy memories.

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Yuvraj Singh is always a force to be reckoned with © Getty Images
Yuvraj Singh is always a force to be reckoned with © Getty Images

Yuvraj Singh is yet to bat for India since the fateful ICC World Twenty20 2014 final against Sri Lanka, where his innings of 11 from 21 balls all but sealed the deal for the eventual champions. He was crucified by the media and by his “fans”. His house was stoned with only his sister-in-law at home. He was dropped and virtually forgotten. He is now back in Indian colours; he has taken a sharp catch and bowled a wicket-taking over. His batting is the most crucial part of the puzzle though, and that still needs to be seen. FULL SCORECARD: India vs Australia 2015-16, 3rd T20I at Sydney 

Yuvraj is probably not the same batsman he was when he hit Stuart Broad to all ends of Durban six times in as many balls, nor the same all-rounder who won India the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. And yet, watching him play for India again tugs at a few nostalgic heartstrings. Yuvraj may not have done much in the last couple of years, but anyone who followed Indian cricket in the 2000s would remember him contributing to many an Indian win. READ: Yuvraj Singh brings the X-factor to the table in T20Is

There is another aspect of Yuvraj that most people seem to forget; he is a big-tournament player, and always has been for India. Right from the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2000, where he was named Man of the Tournament, Yuvraj has enjoyed himself in big tournaments. In three World Cups (2003, 2007, and 2011) he has played, Yuvraj has enjoyed a batting average of 52.71 and a bowling average of 23.10. READ: India must look to the past in order to secure their future

Yuvraj has also played some invaluable innings in ICC World T20s. The most obvious knocks are the 12-ball half-century he scored against England in 2007 and the 30-ball 70 he scored against Australia in the semi-final of the same mega-event, but there was also the 18-ball 41 against Bangladesh in the 2009 World T20, the 67 off 43 balls against West Indies at Lord’s also in the 2009 tournament, and the 43-ball 60 he scored against Australia in the ICC World T20 2014. READ: Yuvraj Singh: The man who won India three World Cups

Watching Yuvraj in action after two years on the side line is enough to bring back happy memories. There are, of course, his more well-known gems; the six sixes in an over and the assault on Australia in back-to-back innings, and the 78-ball 138 not out against England in an ODI, among others. But there are also his forgotten blitzes: the 35-ball 77 not out to help India chase down 202 against Australia in a T20I in 2013, or the 36-ball 72 in a T20I against Pakistan in 2012.

That Yuvraj can hit the ball clean and long is known. That he can score at astronomical rates is a given. But then, that is all in the past. Yuvraj needs to prove himself before he gets to play for India in the ICC World T20 2016. He has the last T20I against Australia, the T20I series against Sri Lanka, and the Asia Cup T20 2016 in order to prove himself with the bat.

For now, though, the sight of Yuvraj in Indian colours is enough.

(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek who loves cricket more than cricketers. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)

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