Our Bureau
Mumbai
Yuvraj Singh, the 2011 World Cup hero, has a simple tip for rising cricketers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. Play golf alongside cricket to unwind and stay sharp. He shared this at the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) launch in Mumbai.
Fifteen years after his glory days at Wankhede Stadium on April 2, 2011, Yuvraj now coaches talents like Abhishek and Shubman. When asked how golf fits with cricket training, he said, “I would ask both of them to play golf with cricket.” He regrets not starting golf sooner, as it could have boosted his own career.
Yuvraj explained that golf helps players relax after tough matches. “Suppose I get out of a match, or any youngster gets out, and he goes to play golf. You will say, why didn’t he go to practice? He went to play golf. But golf actually helps you unwind,” he noted. For Gill, under heavy pressure, and Abhishek, building his spot, mental strength matters as much as skills.
He pointed to foreign players like Australians, Kiwis, English, and South Africans who play golf from childhood. “When you go out to bat… you are standing there alone. Whatever sport you play, you have to put your heart and soul into it,” Yuvraj added. Golf builds focus for those lonely moments at the crease.
As IGPL co-founder and brand ambassador, Yuvraj wants to expose India’s golf talents. He called golf a “very special game” that needs more spotlight. His advice challenges India’s grind-only cricket culture. Balance on and off the field is key to lasting success.
