Arjuna Award will be a great honour, says Yuvraj Singh

BCCI to nominate Dravid for Khel Ratna, Yuvi for Arjuna

Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh hopes to be second time lucky after being nominated for the Arjuna Award.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday recommended names of Yuvraj and batting great Rahul Dravid for Arjuna and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards respectively.

"It will be an honour if I get the award. I didn't get it last time around so I hope I get it this time," Yuvraj, who has successfully recovered from a rare germ cell caner, told reporters at the launch of his cancer foundation YouWeCan.

Yuvraj was also nominated for the Arjuna Award in 2007 when Dravid was considered for the Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour.

The BCCI nominated Yuvraj for the prestigious sports award considering his man of the series performance at the 2011 World Cup.

India Cricketer Yuvaraj Singh Profile

Yuvaraj Singh Profile and Biography

Full nameYuvraj Singh

Nick NameYuvi

Date Of Birth
12-12-1981

CityChandigarh

Teams 
India, Yorkshire, Punjab

Test Debut
Against New Zealand at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on 16-10-2003

ODI Debut
Against Kenya at Gymkhana Club Ground on 03-10-2000

Batting StyleLeft-hand bat

Bowling StyleSlow left-arm orthodox

Yuvraj's Profile

At 19, Yuvraj is already an all rounder who has proven himself. One need look no further than his performance in the domestic youth competitions and in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka. In the final of the Cooch Behar Trophy in the 1999-2000 season, Yuvraj made 358 against Bihar. Any batsman who has the ability to play an innings of that length is bound to be a force to reckon with. Following that performance up with what was an extremely successful World Cup in Sri Lanka, Yuvraj caught the eye of many a cricket pundit. He was named player of the series for scoring heavily through the World Cup, including a tremendous half century that came off just 20 balls in the semifinals against Australia.

Generously gifted, Yuvraj Singh is looked upon as a strong, fearless natural destined for great things. Two months short of his 19th birthday, he made an almost messianic entry into international cricket, toppling Australia in the Nairobi Mini-World Cup in 2000-01, with a blistering 84 and some scintillating fielding. In time he was to supplement these skills with clever, loopy left-arm spin. While Yuvraj's ability to hit the ball long and clean were instantly recognised, he was soon found to be troubled by quality spin and perceived to lack commitment, traits for which he temporarily lost his place in the one-day side. But on returning, for the last two one-dayers against Zimbabwe in early 2002, he swung the series India's way with a matchwinning innings in each game, and then went to England and played a key role in three Indian chases in their dream run in the NatWest tri-series. It took 15 months more, and an injury to his captain, Sourav Ganguly, for Yuvraj to get a Test look-in. On the third such opportunity, against Pakistan on the first day on a greentop at Lahore, he stroked a stunning century off 110 balls. The 2005-06 season proved to be a watershed for Yuvraj, with 1161 runs at 58 in the one-dayers, as he transformed himself into one of the keystones in India's batting line-up. He was soon preferred over VVS Laxman in Tests when India went in with five batsmen, but a lean series in the West Indies meant that he was still struggling to match potential with performance.

Yuvraj Seeing Backagain Wendies Series

Yuvraj looking forward to home series against Windies

Yuvraj Singh enjoys being in the thick of action, so competitive juices are flowing in anticipation of the forthcoming home series against the West Indies. The India all-rounder expressed his appreciation of the team's fielding ability. “Indian teams have been a great fielding side since 2003. Guys like (Suresh) Raina, Rohit (Sharma), and Virat (Kohli) are extremely talented fielders. I'm sure the old horse (referring to himself) is also capable of saving a few runs.”

Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma do not figure in the Test series against the West Indies, but with Kohli and uncapped youngsters like Ajinkya Rahane, India will not be short of fielding options.

Yuvraj was talking on the lines of an event by Puma, which named him as brand ambassador. “I had a long time off the field and am recovering now. For the last 10-15 days I have been pushing really hard.” He is back in the Test squad after a three-month break.

With VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli in the middle-order, Yuvraj will have to fight for his place in the squad. “I'm sure the more we play, the better we become. It is unfortunate, every time I have done well, I got injured. It is part of life and you have got to move on.”

CLEAR PRIORITIES

Yuvraj is clear about his priorities. “I want to be a good Test cricketer. I have done decently well, but am looking to improve my graph all the time.” He averages 35.60 after 1709 runs in 35 Test appearances for India, while scoring 62 in his last Test match for India against England. He has taken 31 catches and nine wickets.

He sounded positive of teammate Harbhajan Singh making a comeback and liked leg-spinner Rahul Sharma's temperament. The India all-rounder said, “If you are the best, no one can stop you. Harbhajan is a great bowler; he has got 400 wickets and played almost 100 Tests.”

Sharma played under Yuvraj's captaincy for Pune Warriors in IPL 2011. “Whenever I have given him the ball, he got wickets and was economical. If you have the best talent you should play them, irrespective of how much domestic cricket they may have played,” he said.

Yuvaraj,Bajji Say's We Don't Know Bookie Majeed

Never met, don’t know bookie Majeed: Harbhajan, Yuvraj

Top Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh rubbished the reported claims of a London—based bookie Mazhar Majeed that he had “access” to them, saying that they have never even met him.

Majeed made the claims during his conversations with the now—closed ‘New of the World’ undercover reporter Mazhar Mehmood, who conducted a sting operation on the alleged bookie and players’ agent.

The recording of the conversation were played to a jury and the judge during the criminal trials of Pakistani cricketers, accused of spot—fixing.

While Harbhajan threatened action, Yuvraj simply ridiculed the report of his name cropping up during the trial.

“I don’t know who this person is, I have never met him. We will definitely take some action against him. I don’t know whether it will be legal action or whatever else,” said Harbhajan in Nagpur, where he is currently playing in the Challenger Series.

“But I will definitely bring it to BCCI’s notice, and I am sure that they will take the right kind of action against these kind people who are trying to spoil the game,” added the feisty off—spinner.

Yuvraj took to Twitter to rubbish the report.

”...And who is majid!! absolute rubbish! Don’t no never met!” he wrote.

“The problem in India is if some one says a rooster has given an egg it will become news !! Whether its true or not its doesn’t matter,” he fumed.

According to media reports, Majeed names these two Indian cricketers along with a host of other international players, who have also rejected the reported claims.

The name—droppings took place during the fourth day of the trial of former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and pacer Mohammad Asif, who are alleged to have bowled predetermined no balls for cash. Both the players have denied the charges.

The BCCI also rubbished the claims, saying that Majeed has very little credibility.

“We do not react to such claims by a person whose credibility is questionable,” said a top BCCI official.

Yuvaraj Hit Six Sixes in T20