Yuvraj needs skipper MS Dhoni's backing

Once a specialist in manning the backward point region, an area allocated to the best fielders in the game, Yuvraj is now banished to the deep, where he has looked forlorn. (AFP Photo)

DHAKA: When Yuvraj Singh was struggling in the Test series during India's tour Down Under in 2007-08, the great Sachin Tendulkar, ever so helpful in the nets, offered him a simple advice. "Bowl more. Once you bowl on these wickets, you will understand how the ball bounces and that will also help your batting." 

The move seemed to work as Yuvraj batted better in the tri-series that India won. When he appeared to be struggling again in 2010-11 prior to the World Cup, MS Dhoni threw the ball to him and the confidence he derived from bowling well rubbed off on his batting too. He eventually turned in a Man of the Tournament performance, thanks to brilliant efforts in both departments. 

There is a school of thought about all-rounders that the success they have in one department seeps into the other. 

After his recovery from cancer, Yuvraj has been dropped twice and recalled twice. The 2014 ICC World T20 is his third comeback in the last 17 months. 

He had already lost his Test spot after performing poorly in three of the four matches against England in the series that India lost 1-2 in the 2012-2013 season. 

England offie James Tredwell then had Yuvraj's number in the ODI series that followed. Yuvraj also had a poor IPL for Pune Warriors and that ensured his ouster from the Champions Trophy squad. 

He returned for the home ODIs against Australia after turning in impressive performances for India A against West Indies. But after a match-winning knock in the T20 tie against Australia in Rajkot, when India chased down 200 last October, Yuvraj's batting has collapsed again. 

Mitchell Johnson brutally exposed the technical flaws in his game as he fell to full swinging deliveries. He could not negotiate the short ones either. 

It didn't help the Punjab southpaw that the team management preferred to send in Raina at No.4 and dropped him to 5 in that series. Dhoni's justification that he was trying out combinations for the World Cup if someone like Yuvraj failed sounded unconvincing. 

That Raina was ahead of Yuvraj in the captain's pecking order was proved when he trusted the former's bowling skills more. 

Dhoni, it seems, doesn't have the Punjab star in his scheme of things anymore. Once a specialist in manning the backward point region, an area allocated to the best fielders in the game, Yuvraj is now banished to the deep, where he has looked forlorn. 

He has put down regulation chances at deep mid-wicket and has appeared numb after dropping them. His bowling too has been sparingly used. India have played four games in the ICC World T20, including two warm-up matches. 

In all, Yuvraj has bowled just one over in the game against Pakistan, where he was hit for 13 runs. Raina has bowled seven. 

Dhoni backed his struggling star after the win against West Indies - where he scratched around for 19 deliveries and scored 10 - by saying all the right things about his match-winning abilities. 

Perhaps it's time for more than words. It's time for his legendary man-management skills to come to the fore. How about an arm around his shoulder? 

The Indian skipper has starred in many a win while batting with Yuvraj. The 2006 ODI leg of the Pakistan tour and the 2011 World Cup final are games that come to mind. 

In this World T20, they have struck a good partnership too, but that has only been in football matches that the team plays before training, where the players are split in two groups. Ironically, Dhoni and Yuvraj have ended up in the same side
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