Yuvraj Singh Excited To See Rishabh Pant’s Return At T20 World Cp 2024, Urges India To ‘Play To Your Strengths’

New York: Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh sounded excited to see how Rishabh Pant performs in the T20 World Cup 2024 and reckoned India could break their ICC trophy drought if they play to their strengths rather than ‘thinking of where the opposition is going to harm us’. Pant, who suffered a near-fatal car accident on December 30, 2022, turned out in the Indian jersey for the first time on Saturday against Bangladesh after 16 long months.

Although it was a warm-up game, Pant showed the same skill set, energy and determination as the southpaw smashed a 32-ball 55, including four fours and four sixes before retiring out. Currently in New York as one of the ICC Ambassadors for T20 World Cup 2024, Yuvraj was asked about one player he’s looking forward to watching.

“I would say Rishabh Pant. I am looking forward to the return of Rishabh, he is coming back from a massive injury,” said the two-time World Cup winner at the opening of Fan Park at the Oculus Trade Centre in New York. “And leading run-getter seems like Virat Kohli, he’s had a very good IPL,” he added.

India last won a major global tournament when Mahendra Singh Dhoni led the team to title triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, two years after Yuvraj played a starring role in the ODI World Cup victory at home. He was also a part of the Indian team that won the 2007 T20 World Cup under Dhoni.

He is best remembered for hitting six sixes against England’s Stuart Broad in an over during the inaugural edition. Asked about the absence of a silverware in more than a decade, Yuvraj said, “I just feel that we played the World Cup 2007 final and we’ve been the qualifying semis and I think it’s just a matter of time…

“I believe we have the self-belief of winning big tournaments. I think if India believes and backs themselves and play to their own strengths, I’m sure they’ll go all the way. And that’s what I believe in,” he said. “… I think that’s the reason why we won.

“We focused on where, how we are good and the things that we need to do rather than thinking of where the opposition is going to harm us. We have the match winners. You know, IPL has been a great platform to get ready for the ICC Men’s World Cup and I hope it’s a better tournament.

“For us, it will be a great moment if India win. It’s been a long time that India won an ICC trophy. Hopefully, the boys will do the job,” he concluded. India begin their campaign against Ireland on June 5.