Winning Cricket and Cancer, Yuvraj Singh turns 36 today
Ten years back, Indians leaped with joy when Yuvraj Singh scored six consecutive sixes in a match against England in 20–20 world cup. The magnanimity was so that people in Ranchi went out on streets from Circular Road to Shyamali celebrating an occasion never forethought of. A young cute and acceptable Yuvraj Singh became an idol to countless cricket lunatics. And why not! Being a true charmer off the field, Yuvraj Sharma has won many matches for India almost singlehandedly. His career started in 2000 and he became an international Star cutting across western hegemony. On his 36th birthday, he is an inspiration to lesser mortals like us, not just for cricket.
Look at two stories from his life, each a larger-than-life cricket legend entwined within a single narrative. The first incident takes us back to 2011 world cup win, when he suffered from a giant tumor (growing to be 15cmx11cmx13cm) pressing against lung and artery. One can’t stand the description of this medical condition, Yuvraj Singh wore it under his warrior-like Indian image. He won a good number of Man-of-the-Match awards during the cricket Olympics, yet few would know his performance came at a risk of life and death.
Doctors strictly warned him about the disease, and yet when children read about world cup 2011, they would know Yuvraj, or Yuvi as he is fondly called, got the 2nd world cup for India, some 27 years after 1983, when India won its first.
Ironically, Indians have a vague sense about cricket arena. Yuvraj Singh could well be a caricature of a man, just like some Hindi cinema star. Or one could say he would have joined Congress, because that is what larger legends did, perhaps aiming for Bharat Ratna. But Yuvraj has been coy, and non-dominating cricketer of all times. His book The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back is a humble memoir of fighting and winning over death. You will find strong semblances with Lance Armstrong’s Every Second Counts, which is in the same spirit of overcoming human limitations to achieve the impossible.
Making no attempt to flaunt his stardom, his smile hits a six every time he meets you. You can’t expect him to be very serious, since the naughty child of Yograj Singh, India’s former bowler, is yet a child at heart and a very brave one at that. Way too much is written, spoken about cricket these days. Be it Virat Kohli or Virender Sehwag, cricket is an evergreen recipe for contributing political discourse.
On your 36th birthday Yuvraj, I wish we get to see you in lights other than those censored by popular media houses. Finally, here’s what Lance Armstrong wrote for you, echoing the sentiments of millions of Indians today.
There comes a time in every race when a competitor meets the real opponent, and understands that it’s himself.
And not to mention, many heartfelt wishes for your successful career, sound health, and beyond that, a happy life.
