The title of 'one-day cricketer' sits lightly on the broad shoulders of Yuvraj Singh. Ever since he burst on the international scene, in Nairobi with a memorable innings of 84 in the quarter-final of the Champions Trophy against Australia, the left-hander has found it difficult to live up to his credentials as a Test batsman.
The Test series against Pakistan passed with Yuvraj doing the duties of 12th man in all the three matches of the series. But with the middle-order creaking, the 23-year old is looking to push for a place in the side with compelling performance in the one-dayers, starting on Saturday.
"That is my goal for this year," he told rediff.com. "I want to do very well in the One-Day Internationals to build myself as a strong contender for the Tests.
"Being labeled as a one-day player obviously doesn't help anyone. I have a Test century against my name and I think that is enough proof that I belong in this league."
After the famous chase of 326 against England at Lord's in the NatWest series final, veteran commentator Henry Blofeld called Yuvraj 'a cross between Gary Sobers and Graeme Pollock, with a dash of Frank Woolley thrown in'.
The accolades kept coming, but the opportunities made themselves scarce. The more he succeeded, the more he failed, and hoarser became the cries to keep him away from the Test scene.
When he was good, he was seen as too impetuous for Tests; when he was bad, he didn't have the technique to sustain at that level.
Yuvraj got the breakthrough against New Zealand in 2003. Then, in the historic series against Pakistan last year he made a name for himself in the second Test, scoring a magnificent 112 under pressure. But he had found a place in the side only because Sourav Ganguly was injured.
With competition in the middle-order getting too tight, he was asked to open the innings against Australia. The argument was talent like his couldn't be wasted on the bench. Two innings and 15 runs later, he was chopped off from the playing eleven.
"I don't think it was a mistake to open the innings in Test matches. Playing cricket is never a mistake," defended Yuvraj. "I didn't get enough chances at that position. But I am happy that I am still in the [Test] squad and am ready to bat at any position in Tests for India."
What about the allegations that he tends to play in patches?
"I think so, yes," was the reply. "I need to work on that. I bat well for four to five matches and then there is suddenly a lull in my performance. I definitely need to get more consistent."
Inconsistency, he agrees, may be his undoing, but the Punjab player is not ready to buy the theory that he is uncomfortable against spin.
"You'll always be criticized, whatever you do. I don't think I am a bad player of spin bowling. People need to realize that I come in to bat at number five or six in one-dayers and have to get a quick 40-50. Inevitably, when I walk in, the spinners are in operation and I get out to them while trying to score fast."
So even if his mother still got 'sentimental' about him not getting hundreds in the ODIs, Yuvraj said he is happy playing the cameos at the end of the innings. He has earned a living doing that.
Of his 17 half-centuries for India in one-dayers, 14 having been in a winning cause. That more than underlines his effectiveness lower down the order.
Another reason for Yuvraj being an integral part of the Indian side is his fielding. He and Mohammed Kaif have raised the bar for fielding in the country.
"I wasn't a very good fielder to start with. But I realized that if I wanted to play one-day cricket I had to be an excellent fielder. That's when I worked hard on it. You feel good about the fact that people say you are one of the best fielders in the side and that it is rubbing-off on the others as well. Fielding is a very crucial part of one-day cricket and you can make a big difference with it."
The third dimension -- bowling -- may have fallen apart a bit due to lack of exposure. But with attitude and age on his side, India should groom him to play a long innings in Test cricket as well.
