Overview
- In recent interviews, former coach Gary Kirsten said that Yuvraj Singh’s inclusion in India’s 2011 World Cup squad was debated by the BCCI selectors and nearly rejected.
- Kirsten and captain MS Dhoni both insisted on Yuvraj’s place, persuading hesitant selectors to include him in the final 15.
- Kirsten credited mental-conditioning coach Paddy Upton with helping Yuvraj build the physical and psychological resilience needed for the tournament.
- Yuvraj delivered on their faith by scoring 362 runs and taking 15 wickets to claim the Player of the Tournament award.
- India capitalized on that performance to beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, ending a 28-year ODI World Cup drought.