(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)
Yuvraj Singh is one of the best talents India found in the last one decade and there is no doubt about it. The left handed batsman has already proved what he is capable of many times in ODI and Twenty20 formats of cricket. However, before the Chennai test, the star batsman did have anything significant in test arena. Debuted in 2003 against New Zealand, Yuvraj Singh had played only 23 test matches before returning to test squad with the Chennai test following the retirement of former great Sourav Ganguly at the end of the home series against Australia.
Yuvraj, on the back of two centuries in the recent ODI series against England, was the ultimate choice to replace Ganguly in the middle order of Indian batting line up. However, the concern over his mediocre form in test cricket still prevailed until the Punjab-based batsman played a winning knock of unbeaten 85 runs in the final day of Chennai test to ensure a historic victory for India. Pitch on the fifth day was not very batting friendly, but Yuvraj Singh, getting enough support from Sachin Tendulkar with whom he shared an unbeaten 163-run partnership for the fifth wicket, showed that he can handle the pressure of test cricket too. The good part of his innings was that he took time to settle in the wicket before starting playing shots.
With the ability to score quickly and play big shots along with his excellent fielding prowess and effective occasional spin bowling, Yuvraj Singh has already become a complete package for ODI and Twenty20 cricket, but from now on, you can consider him a complete test cricketer too. However, Yuvraj Singh must know that he has to continue the momentum and show enough consistency in test cricket as he has been doing in ODI and Twenty20 formats of the game.
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