Returning from injury Yuvraj Singh fielded as well as he always has

Electric as ever

Jamie Alter in Chennai

January 27, 2007

Not one shot was overly positive, but Yuvraj's left knee held up, which was what mattered © Getty Images

Three months after he tore a ligament in the left knee while training in Mohali, Yuvraj was playing his first international match, and as he strode out to the middle, he may well have looked up at the skies, taken a deep breath and invoked a silent prayer to his second coming. Forget that he scratched around for just ten runs; the fact that he spent time in the middle, and fielded as well as he always has, was what really mattered for India and the man in question.

There had been plenty of speculation as to when Yuvraj would return, or if he even would before the World Cup. Less than two weeks ago, Yuvraj said he would be training with the Indian team at Nagpur before proceeding to Kolkata to play three Twenty20 games for his employers Indian Airlines. He underwent a rehabilitation test in Mumbai, under the supervision of the Indian board's physician, and Andrew Leipus, the former Indian team physio. After being monitored by John Gloster, the current Indian team physio, he was passed fit. Two days before this match, he was drafted into the side.

In that respect, it would be unfair to criticise him for his innings today. To come back from injury isn't easy, and what he showed in the field, more than made up for his brief stay at the crease. The first seven deliveries he faced, Yuvraj swayed away from a nasty lifter, stood his ground and drove, shuffled that right leg a touch and drove, and rocked back and drove. Not one shot was overly positive, but the left knee held up, which was a good sign. He was far from fluent, having to really feel for the ball. He didn't get too forward, and those back-foot punches didn't get past the men close in.

The eighth delivery he faced, Yuvraj Singh drove past mid-off to get off the mark and a cheer erupted around the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. There was just one four, clipped behind square leg, and the shot that removed him was as ugly as they come. Dwayne Bravo, having seen how uncomfortable Yuvraj was against the lifter, offered him a second and gleefully accepted the mistimed caught and bowl that followed.

Greg Chappell has repeatedly stressed that the World Cup will be won by one of the best fielding sides, and from that statement Yuvraj's return to the side takes on greater significance. He brings, to a side of veterans, speed and agility, and is by far the best fielder India have. For all their brilliant batting and bowling, India needs exuberance and dedication in the field; Yuvraj, and Mohammad Kaif, bring that in leaps and bounds, literally.

In the field tonight, Yuvraj was energetic at his usual position. He was seen hopping on one leg, stretching his left knee, during the first over, and when he moved to his left to stop a ball at backward point, the crowd cheered. He dived to his left and intercepted a full-blooded Devon Smith cut, and very nearly ran out Marlon Samuels with a great pick-and-throw. He failed to latch on to a tough chance, cut hard by Smith, diving full length and low, but otherwise the signs were very, very positive.

From a team perspective, his return to form ahead of the World Cup is crucial, having over the years matured into a level-headed matchwinner. In August 2005, Yuvraj produced a violent hundred against West Indies in Sri Lanka that sparked a magical run of 1313 runs from 31 matches at 59.68, with five hundreds, six fifties, and three successive Man-of-the-Series awards. Coincidence or not, his slump in form runs parallel to India's about-turn in the West Indies - after winning 17 consecutive games chasing - beginning with that heart-breaking last-over loss at Jamaica and continuing up to the start of this series. His success, therefore, may help India back on track with the World Cup just 45 days away.

Jamie Alter is editorial assistant of Cricinfo

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