Yuvraj Singh more interested in coaching than commentary going forward

Yuvraj announced his retirement from international cricket in June last year.

By Salman Anjum - 18 May, 2020

Regarded as one of India's greatest white-ball cricketers, Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from international cricket in June last year.

Subsequently, the southpaw sought NOC from BCCI and featured in the Global Canada T20 League and Abu Dhabi T10 League for Toronto Nationals and Maratha Arabians respectively.

See Also: "Never again" - Yuvraj Singh slams Shahid Afridi for his comments on PM Narendra Modi

While it is tough to say till what age the 38-year-old will continue to play competitive cricket, one thing is certain that Yuvraj is not quite interested in the commentary role going forward.  

On Sunday (May 17), former England captain Kevin Pietersen asked Yuvraj to join him and other renowned names in the IPL commentary panel.

"Come and join me in the studios, come and join us in the IPL. Come and sit with us, it's fun. You will be watching the game anyway. You are recently retired, why can't you come and sit with us and have a laugh. It's not like playing. I'm going to get you into the commentary box," Pietersen told Yuvraj during an Instagram Live session.

To which, Yuvi said coaching is the career he wants to explore.

"I'll look forward to that. I've played for so many years so just want to take a break for a year. Probably do certain tournaments where it makes sense to do it, join with great players like you and Brian Lara and learn about commentating as well. But I am not really sure how I will do as a commentator."

"Its gonna take some time to get into the mindset of talking about cricket. I understand what you saying but I just thought of taking some time off the game and hopefully become a father. I'm not gonna hurry myself and talk about cricket."

"I'll start on that (coaching), because I'm more keen on coaching than commentary. I probably have good insight for limited-overs cricket. I can advice youngsters about the mental approach in different phases of the game. Probably start as a mentor before getting into full-time coaching. I have about 16-17 academies working which I started 10 years ago. I am pretty much set without commentary," Yuvraj replied.

During the candid chat, Pietersen also brought the topic of Yuvraj’s famous 6 sixes in an over off Stuart Broad during a 2007 ICC World T20 match in Durban. Pietersen wanted to know what had triggered the swashbuckling left-hander before he went bonkers.

In reply, Yuvraj said he won't be able to tell everything publicly but Andrew Flintoff had made him very angry.

"I hit Andrew Flintoff for a boundary and he said 'dash dash shit shots'. I asked him what did u say Freddie and he said ''F*****g shots'. I said the same things back and he said 'I am gonna cut your throat'. I went up to him and told you know where this bat is gonna go, right? I was so angry and when hit Stuart Broad for 6 sixes, my first look was at Dimitri Mascarenhas and second look at Andrew Flintoff. Mascarenhas had hit me for 5 sixes in a match," Yuvraj Singh recalled.

By Salman Anjum - 18 May, 2020

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