The whole team needs to put their hands up – Yuvraj Singh on how India can end ICC title drought

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh feels the whole team needs to come up with a collective effort to end their major ICC event title drought. Yuvraj also feels the team is lacking a mental attitude, which is leading to their downfall in the big matches of the big tournaments.

India recently lost the ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia after dominating the whole tournament. The hosts could not come up with a collective show in the all-important final as they posted only 240 runs on the board.

India last won a major ICC trophy in 2013 when former skipper MS Dhoni led the team to glory in the Champions Trophy. Since then India has been consistently qualifying for the major events of the big tournaments but they have failed to cross the final hurdle.

In an interview with India Today, Yuvraj Singh said, “We have won but also lost in 2017 (Champions Trophy). I was also a part of the team. In skill, talent and hardwork we are not behind. We are much ahead and that is why we have played in finals be it World Test Championship or World Cups. We are just one step behind. For me, mental attitude to winning games is lacking.”

He added, “Our most experienced players, Virat (Kohli) and Rohit (Sharma) have good outings, but the the whole team needs to put their hands up. If 11 people think that we have to win, then only we can win. When we lost to Australia, I was hurt as I was sure that we would beat them. Our younger generations should prepare hard for events like these.”

When asked if he would pick Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in his T20 World Cup squad, Yuvraj said the team needs to play fearless cricket like the way they did in the inaugural edition of the tournament.

Yuvraj said, “I am not a decision maker. I think Rohit and Virat are great players. But, in the T20s, youngsters are doing really well. Fearlessness is important. When we won the first T20 World Cup, our team was fearless. That’s important, especially in T20Is. Important decisions have to be taken, so experience also matters. A good team should have a mix of youth and experience. It’s important to have a very good captain. Whether Hardik will lead the team or not, whether Rohit will lead, it’s not my decision. Rohit has been a fantastic captain for India in the IPL. That’s the selector’s call.”

The second T20I between India and Afghanistan will be played at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on Sunday.