Watch: Canada's Yuvraj Samra reveals he is named after this Indian player in T20 World Cup 2026
Canada's left-handed tall opening batter, Yuvraj Samra, who scoed a 15-ball half-century less than a year ago, has revealed the Indian player he has been named after ahead of their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
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Baljit Sharma named his son Yuvraj Samra after the former Indian World Cup-winning spin all-rounder, Yuvraj Singh, and felt he could play the game without being noticed. Samra is a 19-year-old left-handed opening batter for Canada, where he will start his T20 World Cup 2026 journey against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
In 15 T20I innings, the southpaw, Yuvraj Samra, has smashed 442 runs at an average of 36.83 and a strike rate of 160.72 with the help of three half-centuries, with his best score 63. He revealed the story of how his father had been a massive fan of the Punjab batter.
“My dad was there, my dad told him (about the name). He said, " Oh, that's nice, he's just laughing. I don't remember when it was, but it was when he played for the Toronto Nationals [in 2019]. And then, I met him when Super 60 started, so last year, 2025. It's just amazing how he hits the ball. It's just really fun to watch. My dad always wants me to copy him. But I'm always saying that I want to be like my own version.” Samra said to ESPNcricinfo.
Yuvraj Samra aims to learn in T20 World Cup 2026 campaign
Samran was playing in the age-groups in October 2023 before getting the chance with the senior side on the tour in February 2024, at which point, his head was in the clouds. He smashed a 15-ball fifty against the Bahamas less than a year ago, which is a national record.
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“I'm not like AB [de Villiers], like scoop this way, scoop that way. But I rely on my shots. I'm strong down the ground, like straight in my V" - but won't let anything stop him. I feel like this World Cup is for me, like I want to perform well, and I want to play franchise leagues.” Samra added.
“We're playing [our first T20 World Cup match] against South Africa, so I'd like to meet Markram. Probably everyone on that team, the big names on that team, ask them what their mindset is. How do you guys prepare for such a big tournament?” The Canadian batter informed.
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Subhradeep Choudhury
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