VISAKHAPATNAM: Indian all-rounder and World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh will don national colors for the first time since battling cancer when a two-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand starts today.
The 30-year-old left-hander underwent chemotherapy in the United States in March and April to treat a rare germ-cell tumor between his lungs, which was diagnosed late last year.
Yuvraj, who was man of the tournament in India’s World Cup triumph last year, has not played competitive cricket since two home Tests against the West Indies last November.
But the selectors recalled him as soon as he was declared fit by doctors at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore where he had begun light training in July.
“It is hard to believe that I will be playing for India again,” Yuvraj said ahead of the first Twenty20 game against the Black Caps in the southern coastal town of Visakhapatnam.
“A few months back I had trouble climbing four steps, now I can’t wait to take the field. It is like starting a new life,” said the all-rounder.
Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh, also making a comeback after being out of favor with the selectors for a year, said he was delighted to see close friend Yuvraj back in action.
“Now this is what we call a comeback,” said Harbhajan. “There can’t be a bigger inspiration in cricket than Yuvi. It is a privilege to be back in the dressing room with him.” The match today and the second game in Chennai on Tuesday will serve as a tune-up for the World Twenty20 that starts in Sri Lanka on September 18.
The Black Caps are hoping to end their Indian tour on a high by winning the Twenty20 games after being whitewashed 2-0 in the recent Test series.
All-rounder Jacob Oram, who did not play in the Tests, said the two games were timely ahead of the tournament in Sri Lanka.
“We are here to win but whatever happens we have to make sure we learn from the series because it’s great preparation,” Oram said.
“You are not going to get a tougher competition than playing India in India. Fifty-over champs but perennial T20 favorites as well.” New Zealand will be boosted by the return of influential all-rounder and former captain Daniel Vettori, who missed the Tests due to a groin injury.
Tickets for the first game at the 27,000-capacity Andhra Cricket Association stadium have been sold out despite forecasts of bad weather today .
India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Ashok Dinda, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh, Manoj Tiwary.
New Zealand (from): Ross Taylor (capt), Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, BJ Watling, James Franklin, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Ronnie Hira, Adam Milne.
Yuvraj set to begin second innings as India takes on New Zealand
Yuvraj set to begin second innings as India takes on New Zealand
Supersub strikes again as Sesko gives Man United win at Everton
- The defeat was a blow to Everton’s hopes of a place in next year’s European competitions and left it languishing in ninth, behind Brentford and Bournemouth
LIVERPOOL, England: Manchester United supersub Benjamin Sesko scored 13 minutes after entering the field to give his side a 1-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Monday.
It was the third time in four games that Sesko has scored after coming off the bench and secured points for United.
“I believe in me and so do the other players as well,” Sesko told Sky Sports. “They know what they are going to get when I arrive in the game. It’s up to me to deliver of course.”
His goal with 19 minutes remaining finished off the slickest move of an otherwise stodgy game.
Bryan Mbeumo controlled Matheus Cunha’s superb long ball and played a perfectly weighted pass to the feet of Sesko, who steered the ball past Jordan Pickford with aplomb.
“It was a great finish,” United interim coach Michael Carrick said. “It was a ruthless finish. I liked the way he put it away with real confidence. It was great play from Cunha and Mbeumo to set it up and we are dangerous on the break.”
Until then defenses had been on top and the lack of attacking fluency was not helped by a heavy pitch that appeared to slow down both teams.
The result took fourth-placed United three points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool. United was three behind Aston Villa.
It also extended Carrick’s unbeaten run to six games since he replaced Ruben Amorim on Jan. 13.
The defeat was a blow to Everton’s hopes of a place in next year’s European competitions and left it languishing in ninth, behind Brentford and Bournemouth and eight points adrift of Chelsea and Liverpool.
David Moyes’ men have gone seven games without a win at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“Generally we did very well in lots of bits,” Moyes said. “We got done on the counterattack and they ran away and got the goal that was there. We put in a great effort to get the goal but lacked the quality to make it count.”
