What’s the story?
Back in the ICC Champions Trophy squad after a gap of 11 years, Yuvraj Singh hopes he can contribute to India’s quest of defending the title during the 18-day long tournament – June 1-18 – in England.
"I am delighted to be returning to the India side for the 50-over ICC tournament and look forward to making a meaningful contribution as the side aims to defend its title," Yuvraj said.
The southpaw also was confident about India retaining the trophy. "We are in a tough group, but at the same time we are a form side following a successful domestic season. We will look to carry forward the winning momentum into Champions Trophy and become the second side to back titles," he said.
In case you didn’t know...
After much delay, India finally announced its 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy on Monday.
The players included are Virat Kohli (C), Rohit, Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami.
The heart of the matter
Yuvraj, who will be playing in the ICC Champions Trophy after a period of 11 years also said that it would be easier said than done against the top teams of the world. The 35-year-old made his Champions Trophy debut in 2000 in Kenya and featured in all the events until 2006, before being left out for the 2009 and 2013 editions of the tournament.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman also said that due to the presence of a lot of NRIs in the UK, the Indian team always feels at home when they play there.
What’s next?
The Indian team will travel to England after the IPL ends on May 21. They will play their first match against Pakistan on June 4, after which they will play Sri Lanka on June 8 and South Africa on June 11. Virat Kohli will continue leading the side, while the name of his deputy has not been revealed yet.
Author’s Take
Yuvraj Singh, the king of comebacks, has never disappointed on his return. Earlier this year, the stylish batsman scored his first ODI century after the 2011 World Cup, against England. The determination with which the 35-year old plays has earned him many feats, and one can only expect to see his flamboyancy once again in the Champions Trophy.
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2017: Is India on the right path to defend the coveted title?
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