Confident Yuvraj Singh looks for new start

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Out of action since mid-November after being diagnosed with a benign lung tumour, India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is confident of his international comeback in the upcoming tri-series Down Under.

With the selection of the ODI and T20 outfits slated for Sunday, Yuvraj is hopeful of making the cut after the serious medical condition forced him out of the India team following the second Test against the West Indies in Kolkata.

“Things have shaped up well in the last few weeks and I am hoping to make a return to the cricket field if the selectors give me the nod (for the ODI and T20 series),” said Yuvraj here.

While Yuvraj led one side, his India team-mate Suresh Raina captained the other with the Karnataka under-25 team members making up the numbers. “I have started batting and bowling and there are no signs of discomfort now,” added the left-hander.

Though Yuvraj’s side lost the 50-over practice match by two runs, the signs look encouraging for the all-rounder’s return.

On Friday, selection committee chairman Kris Srikkanth and Mohinder Amarnath are expected to join up with Raja Venkat with a second practice match scheduled.

With the three of the five wise men assembling, it is likely that the players were asked to converge at the NCA to prove their fitness ahead of the selection.

It’s a good sign against the backdrop of some embarrassing injury pull-outs in the recent past including Zaheer Khan’s premature exit in England and Praveen Kumar’s withdrawal just before the team’s departure for Australia.