ICC World Cup 2019: 2 ways Yuvraj Singh can make a comeback to Team India

Let’s accept it - we cannot live with him, and we cannot live without him. When he is not around, we pray for his comeback. And when he is wearing the Team India jersey, we want him to be axed after a few below par performances.

Why else would the entire nation, even today, when India looks very much certain of its 15 member squad, still be hoping against hope for Yuvraj Singh to make a comeback?

The 37-year-old player last played an international game way back in June 2017. Since then, he hasn’t even set the domestic circuit on fire. To make matters worse, he went unsold in the first round of the IPL 2019 auction until he somehow managed to crawl into a strong Mumbai Indians team (by the way, the entire nation heaved a sigh of relief at this news).

It’s no surprise that the selectors aren’t talking about him and the team management isn’t either. And yet, deep down in our hearts, we are quietly praying for a miracle to watch the flamboyant left-hander represent the nation one more time and end his career with more World Cup glory.

And what are his chances? Next to impossible.

The Indian team looks very much a well-settled side with almost every base covered and therefore, does not leave much room for a new player to squeeze in. And with just a few days left for the announcement, it appears very unlikely for the 2011 ICC World Cup winner to make a comeback.

However, life is unpredictable and miracles do happen. So let’s look at two scenarios where the beloved Yuvraj could have an outside chance of returning back to the side.

#1 A scintillating IPL show

It goes without saying that Yuvraj has to have an impeccable IPL 2019. He needs to play with the exuberance of an 18-year-old again, and demolish the opponents with his scintillating batting - not just in a few games but in every single one.

It's easier said than done, but there no other way to break through.

By the looks of things, it appears that he will play in the middle order for MI, which could work well for him considering Team India’s ongoing middle order muddle. A successful stint for Yuvraj will certainly generate the buzz around the Indian circuit and may just make him a contender for the No. 4 slot.

#2 Unfortunate injuries

Even if he plays exceptional cricket in the IPL, Yuvraj may still not be entertained due to the abundant availability of talented players like Ambati Rayudu, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav. However, unfortunate injuries to one or more of them can open up the doors for Yuvraj.

An untimely injury could force the team management to look for immediate replacements. And considering Yuvraj's international experience (304 ODIs) and his good IPL form (assuming he does play well), he will certainly be the front-runner for the job.

All that said, whatever happens in the coming days, Yuvraj will always be remembered as one of the finest Indian to have played the game of cricket.