The Extreme Beginnings of Yuvraj Singh's Cricket Journey
Yograj Singh, father of Indian cricket legend Yuvraj Singh, is widely recognized as an exceptionally strict parent whose methods were both intense and controversial. As a former cricketer who now coaches young players and acts in Punjabi cinema, Yograj recently opened up about the dramatic early days of his son's training, detailing how he steered Yuvraj toward cricket against significant family resistance.
A Father's Unfulfilled Dreams
Yograj Singh's determination to mold his son into a cricketing champion stemmed from his own unrealized aspirations in the sport. Having played alongside Kapil Dev before his career stalled, Yograj viewed Yuvraj as his chance for redemption. "I wanted my son to get revenge for me, from the system, the selectors, and all those who laughed at me," he confessed, framing his actions as a battle against those he felt had wronged him.
The Emotional Turning Point
Yograj shared a poignant memory from when Yuvraj was just an infant. During a night of deep despair, he picked up his sleeping son and made a solemn vow. "One day, I was very sad, crying a lot and I was thinking what God had done to me. At 2-3 am, I picked up Yuvi and I hugged him. I thought that if I just die like this, it will mean nothing," Yograj recalled. He then placed the baby before the Guru Granth Sahib and declared, "Either you take me away or you give him a blessing." In that vulnerable moment, he even admitted contemplating suicide, stating starkly, "I will shoot myself."
Early Signs of Raw Talent
Remarkable indications of Yuvraj's natural power emerged when he was merely eighteen months old. Yograj handed his toddler a plastic bat, and with one swing, the boy shattered a windowpane. "I thought that this boy is a package. He had just started walking then," Yograj said, emphasizing that he had not taught his son anything at that early stage. This incident reinforced his belief in Yuvraj's destined path.
The Skating Medals Incident
As Yuvraj grew older, he developed a strong passion for skating and tennis, winning multiple medals and gradually drifting away from cricket. This deeply worried Yograj, who saw his son slipping from what he believed was his true calling. Determined to force a course correction, Yograj took drastic action after a skating competition where Yuvraj had excelled.
"Yuvraj was skating at a competition one day and he got a lot of medals. We sat in the car and I took his medals and threw them out of the car. This was the wrong thing to do. Then I took his skates and threw them out and he started crying," Yograj recounted. As Yuvraj broke down in tears, Yograj shouted at him to stop, later acknowledging his own anger issues and describing his temper as "very bad." During that tense car ride, neither Yuvraj nor his mother dared to speak up.
Family Conflict and Ultimatum
The fallout at home was severe. Yograj's mother confronted him, furious at how he was treating her grandson. "She told me that if you are going to treat my grandson like this, you better get out of the house. She abused me a lot," he recalled. In response, Yograj delivered a firm ultimatum: "Either I will live in this house, or he will. I want him to play cricket, and I will not let go until he plays. You can do whatever you want to."
The Making of a Champion
Yograj Singh's extreme parenting methods, though controversial, ultimately shaped one of India's most celebrated cricketers. By pulling Yuvraj away from other sports at age five or six and relentlessly pushing him toward cricket, Yograj fulfilled his own dreams through his son's remarkable career. These revelations provide a fascinating glimpse into the intense dedication and personal sacrifices behind Yuvraj Singh's rise to cricketing stardom.
