Smack that cancer with a six, Yuvi!

On Sunday, the 5th of February, cricket enthusiasts around the world woke up to an unpleasant news.

Iconic cricketer Yuvraj Singh undergoing treatment for cancer in the US made ‘breaking news’ and almost immediately set off a flurry of messages pouring in for him from fans across the globe.When a friend of mine brought it up during our regular telephone chat that day, she said, “I think no one can stop what we are destined to go through. Who could have imagined that Yuvraj Singh, someone who is so fit, who was the star of the 2011 ICC World Cup, would be diagnosed with cancer and that too when he is only 30.”Her statement quickly made me realise that this had, for many reasons, become an emotional topic for people regardless of whether they are cricket fans or not. Messages are pouring in for him across social media websites as though someone from their own family is going through a traumatic time.Being a sports writer and interacting with sportsmen who have overcome the greatest odds to climb the success ladder, somehow, Yuvraj’s ailment can’t bring out the exact emotions as several others.

Following cricket for a career, there had been talks about Yuvraj suffering from something as serious as cancer for over seven months now. No one wrote about it simply because we didn’t have enough ‘info’ in hand. I recollect a senior cricket writer known to Yuvraj for a long time telling me that there was something wrong with him. “He doesn’t look like he is in the best of shape. He constantly coughs while talking to people and it’s really not just an injury that is keeping him out of cricket. Most of us (sports writers) in Delhi believe it’s cancer and we are trying to get in touch with his family to find out more,” he had told me. This was about five months ago.

Somehow, journalists don’t have emotions, I thought to myself. Here we are discussing about something as dreaded as cancer and one of our country’s finest cricketer might or might not have it. God, I hope it’s not true! I had wished.

Though Yuvraj is not a player I fancy the most, I believe that Yuvraj is one of those very few players who has faced some really testing times and yet emerged victorious.

A little before the World Cup, when India was touring Sri Lanka, he was going through a rough patch. He was not scoring runs. He was even dropped from the team. He had then mentioned, to the same sports writer, that: “Patha nahi yaar (I don’t know) No matter what I do, I am not scoring runs. I have tried different things but nothing seems to work. I am really struggling. I am fit and my body feels fine but I can’t seem to score. I am just trying to be mentally strong. Don’t write me off just yet. I will comeback really strong.”

To admit about a poor form is not easy for any sportsman, but Yuvraj came out and told the world that he was. His tv commercial where he says, Jab tak balla chal raha hai, thaat hai. Jab balla nahin chalega to…”. draws on real life experience.He points out that the fact of the matter is that life is fine for only as long as he is healthy and able to play well.Yuvraj made a dream comeback and picked up from where he had left. He came up with a stellar performance in the World Cup and was a huge game changer for India. He was adjudged the man-of-the-series.

It is indeed sad and shocking to get a confirmation about his illness. But then again, among journalistic circle, the buzz is that: “Arre, he will comeback yaar. It’s nothing to be so emotional about. It’s just the first stage and he will fight it.”

The statement is made in a way that he is just struggling to find form. He is a survivor, a survivor of harsh critics and for all you know, he will smack that cancer with a six and emerge a survivor this time as well. It is a matter of batting a ‘confident battle’ for Yuvraj and we hope he will, over time, become a mightier role model for millions across the globe.

Yuvraj is being treated by the same doctor who treated legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer in 1996. The cyclist recovered to go on to win the sport’s most prestigious race, the Tour de France, an unprecedented seven times.He has played 37 Tests, scoring 1775 runs at an average of 34.80.

He has 8051 runs at an average of 37.62 from his 274-match ODI career, the highlight of which was his stellar role in India’s World Cup triumph last year.

Get-well messages for Yuvi:

“Shocked to learn of Yuvraj Singh down with cancer..Yuvraj if you read this, know that we all pray for you..All shall and will be well,” Amitabh Bachan wrote on his Twitter page.

“I believe he will recover very soon. He is a fighter and will win this battle too. He is an elder brother too me and wish and hope he will regain his health and be back in the team soon,” S Sreesanth.

“Wishing Yuvraj Singh a speedy recovery, all our prayers and good wishes are with him,” Rohan Bopanna, Tennis star.“Here’s wishing Yuvraj Singh a speedy & complete recovery. On a good day there are few cricketers more exciting than him.” Omar Abdullah, Politician.