A young cricketer from Australia has come to India to cricket properly. The Australian talent has joined Yograj Singh Academy and is now learning the basics of cricket there. 

Yograj Singh, former India cricketer and father of Yuvraj Singh, spent time with the boy to polish batting techniques. In his YouTube channel, Yograj Singh shared a video capturing moments of training of the 11-year-old boy. 

In the video, we can see how the former India cricketer teaches the boy how to make the technique precise. From the initial few minutes of the video, viewers can see how he teaches his special student how to make a forward defense. Then, we can see him operating a bowling machine to test the batter's art of defense. 

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Yograj Singh teaching the art of defence 

The description of the video reads, "An 11-year-old from Australia came to Yograj Singh Cricket Academy, and in one session, his game completely changed. The reason was not luck or talent—it was his understanding of time. When he practiced, he was fully present. His body and mind worked together, and under Yograj Singh’s guidance, he began to learn the art of self-coaching." 

Yograj Singh was mainly a right-arm pace bowling all-rounder who could add runs from the lower order. For India, his career was brief but promising. He represented India in 1 Test and 6 One Day Internationals between 1980 and 1981. In his only Test match, which was against New Zealand in Wellington, he claimed a brace. In ODI matches, Yograj picked up 4 wickets. In domestic cricket, Singh played for Haryana and was a consistent performer in the Ranji Trophy, taking over 60 wickets in first-class cricket. Due to injury, his career was cut short.

Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh, spoke against Virat Kohli when asked if Kohli as captain, could have helped Yuvraj play longer. Yograj said many players were scared that Yuvraj would take their place.

Yuvraj played for India for 15 years. He was not in the team at times in 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017. Kohli became India’s captain in white-ball cricket in early 2017. That year, Yuvraj played only eight ODIs under Kohli and was then dropped from the team for good.

Yograj Singh Criticizes Backstabbers in Cricket

Responding to whether Virat Kohli could have helped Yuvraj Singh during his captaincy, Yograj Singh told Inside Sport: “As I said, there are no real friends in the world of success, money, and fame. There were always backstabbers, people who wanted to put you down. People were scared of Yuvraj Singh because he could take their place. He was a great player made by God. He has been one of the greatest, and people, even MS Dhoni, were scared – thinking, ‘Oh, he might take my chair.’”

Kohli is one of India’s most successful captains. He has 135 wins in 213 matches across formats and helped India dominate Test cricket in the late 2010s, including leading India to their first series win in Australia in 2018/19.

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Yuvraj Singh’s Big Role in India’s ICC Wins

Playing under MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh played a key role in India’s World Cup successes. He scored important runs in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and helped India end their long World Cup drought.

In the 2011 ODI World Cup at home, Yuvraj was the Player of the Tournament. He scored 362 runs in nine matches, with four half-centuries and a century. He also took 15 wickets at an average of 25.13 and an economy of 5.02. Yuvraj did not play in the 2015 ODI World Cup. He ended his international career with 11,778 runs and 148 wickets in 402 matches.

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh, launched a sharp criticism when asked if Virat Kohli’s captaincy could have helped Yuvraj extend his career. Yograj believes that almost all of Yuvraj’s contemporaries were scared that he might take their spots in the team. Yuvraj had an illustrious 15-year international career, but he faced periods of being in and out of the Indian side, particularly in 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017.

Virat Kohli became India’s permanent captain in white-ball formats at the start of 2017. Despite this, Yuvraj played only eight ODIs under Kohli that season before being dropped permanently from the team. Yograj’s comments suggest that Kohli’s captaincy could not have changed the dynamics of fear and competition surrounding Yuvraj’s place in the side.

Speaking to Inside Sport, Yograj said, "As I told you, there are no friends in the sphere of success, money, and glory. There were always backstabbers, people who wanted to put you down. People were scared of Yuvraj Singh because they were afraid he would usurp their seats because he was such a great player created by the God Almighty. He has been the greatest of players, who they were scared of—right from MS Dhoni, everybody—'Oh,he might take my chair.'"

Yuvraj’s Career and Kohli’s Captaincy

Kohli is among India’s most successful captains, registering 135 wins in 213 matches across formats. During his captaincy, India excelled at Test cricket during the second half of the decade, including their first series win in Australia (2018/19)

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Although Kohli had success as a captain, the fact that Yuvraj didn't play at all during that time shows the intense competition and inner workings of the team Yograj spoke of because talent was not always enough to secure a position on the Indian national team.

Former India cricketer Yograj Singh has reignited his criticism of MS Dhoni following the resurfacing of the viral “hookah” controversy linked to Irfan Pathan.

The controversy stemmed from Pathan’s 2020 interview, where he suggested Dhoni favored certain players over others during team selection. Those remarks have resurfaced on social media, sparking widespread debates and memes.

Reacting to the matter, Yograj Singh once again voiced his displeasure with Dhoni’s leadership style. He claimed that favoritism within the team hurt the careers of many deserving cricketers, including Pathan. The former all-rounder’s fresh comments have further fueled discussions, keeping the focus firmly on Dhoni and the long-standing debate over fairness in Indian cricket selections.

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Yograj Singh Comments on the Viral “Hookah” Controversy:

Irfan Pathan was left out of the Indian team after the 2012 season, a time when MS Dhoni was leading the side across formats. Interestingly, the two had earlier shared success in India’s historic 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, where Pathan’s match-winning performance in the final against Pakistan earned him the Player of the Match award.

Addressing the ongoing Dhoni-Pathan hookah controversy in an interview with Inside Sport, Yograj Singh didn’t hold back. He commented strongly on the issue, suggesting that such incidents reflected larger concerns about team culture and selection practices during Dhoni’s tenure.

Yograj Singh said, “ It is not only about Irfan Pathan. You see Gautam Gambhir speaking about it. Virender Sehwag openly said about it as well. Harbhajan Singh spoke about how he was put out of the team like a fly. You should arrange a jury on why he did what he did. MS Dhoni doesn’t want to answer. One who doesn’t want to answer has a guilty conscience.”

Irfan Pathan missed India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad and featured in only three ODIs between 2009 and 2011. However, he returned in 2012 as a regular, playing 12 matches that year, before being permanently dropped from the national setup.

Yograj Singh Criticizes MS Dhoni’s Treatment Towards Specific Players:

Yograj Singh criticized MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev, and Bishan Singh Bedi, raising concerns about how they treated specific players. While questioning them, he acknowledged Dhoni and Kapil’s achievements, highlighting their distinction as India’s only ODI World Cup-winning captains, with Dhoni also guiding India to the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy triumphs.

He further said, “ I talk about Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni. I can talk about people whom I have been with. They have treated people like shit. Jo galat hai wo galat hai. Two wrongs cannot make one right. I say this openly, that our cricketers and team were destroyed by our captain.”

Former India cricketer Yograj Singh, who is also the father of Yuvraj Singh, heaped high praise on Mohammed Siraj following his standout performance in the final Test against England at The Oval. Siraj played a crucial role in helping India clinch a narrow win and level the series 2-2.

Yograj Singh was especially impressed by Siraj’s energy, consistency, and determination throughout the series. He mentioned that watching Siraj bowl reminded him of the great Kapil Dev, one of India’s finest all-rounders. According to Yograj, Siraj's hunger to take wickets and his aggressive style closely resembled Kapil’s approach during his playing days.

Comparing a modern-day bowler to a legend like Kapil Dev is no small compliment. Yograj’s remarks highlighted how Siraj’s recent performances, particularly in high-pressure situations, have taken his game to a new level and earned him admiration from former players and fans alike.

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Yograj Singh Praises Siraj’s Hard Work:

Mohammed Siraj played a key role in India’s thrilling six-run victory in the final Test at The Oval, picking up nine wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings. His efforts were crucial in turning the game around, especially after England looked set to win at 301/3 while chasing 374.

In a conversation with ANI, former cricketer Yograj Singh praised Siraj’s outstanding performance. He highlighted how Siraj led the Indian bowling attack with determination and skill, helping the team level the series despite being under immense pressure on the final day of the match.

He said, “The way our players have played, it was amazing to watch. The way Mohammed Siraj bowled, he reminded me of Kapil Dev. The captaincy of Shubman Gill was mature. It did not seem at all that he was a captain for the first time.”

Miya Magic in The Oval:

Mohammed Siraj was one of the two pacers, alongside Chris Woakes, to feature in all five tough Test matches. While Woakes got injured in the final game, Siraj remained strong throughout the series. He emerged as the top wicket-taker, claiming 23 wickets and proving his consistency and resilience across all five matches.

Mohammed Siraj shared that he strongly believed he could help India win the Oval Test on the final day. England needed just 35 runs with four wickets left, but Siraj turned the match around. Delivering a brilliant spell of pace bowling, he took three of the last four wickets, including the final dismissal of Gus Atkinson, leading India to a memorable and hard-fought victory.

Siraj earned the Player of the Match award for his outstanding performance in both innings of the crucial Oval Test. His impact with the ball played a key role in securing victory in the series decider, showcasing his skill and determination when it mattered most for his team.

The former India pacer, Yograj Singh, has dropped a huge remark on India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, after the Shubman Gill-led side’s mammoth 336-run victory at Edgbaston to level the series 1-1 against England. He reckoned that despite failures, it would be vital for the fans to consistently support Gambhir and co. Because they had done so much for the game.

Yograj, father of India’s World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, was pleased with Gill’s character in Birmingham. The Punjab-born led the young side in the absence of two veterans, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, especially after their opening five-wicket defeats against the Ben Stokes-led side. The home side chased down 371 quite comfortably.

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“We will support them always. Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraaj Singh, and Rahul Dravid are giving back to cricket because they have received so much. Even if our team loses, we should not demoralize them. If you lose, you will not be there to explain, if you win, you don't need to explain. I liked Shubman Gill's statement yesterday. We hope that we win the series under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.” Yograj Singh addressed during a recent reaction with ANI.

Watch: Yograj Singh drops huge remark on India’s Test victory against England

Gautam Gambhir copped a lot of criticism before the start of the second game. Even when the management decided to go with Washington Sundar instead of Kuldeep Yadav to strengthen their batting line-up and give rest to their premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. But Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj’s inspiring spell and five-wicket hauls across innings led them to the victory.

“God willing, under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, India will win the series. And if we continue to field like this, I was talking to you, you would remember what happened yesterday regarding fielding fitness, why we won, what outstanding catches we took, and if the bowlers bowl four good balls out of six balls, then take two catches.” Yograj Singh added.

#WATCH | Chandigarh: On India's victory against England in the 2nd Test in Birmingham, former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh says, "Indian players are consistently growing and improving their game. We will support them always... Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraaj Singh, and Rahul Dravid are… pic.twitter.com/568dZJWfJA

— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2025

The visitors got the winning platform after their captain smashed 269 in the first innings. Even during the second innings, when they needed to score aggressively, the right-handed batter smashed 161 runs and set a massive target of over 600 runs for the opponents. Deep and Siraj outplayed the home bowlers’ on a dry batting paradise.

Yograj Singh, former India cricketer and father of Yuvraj Singh, again dropped a bombshell. In the latest interview, the former cricketer has made some interesting comments about Indian cricket. In this section, without mentioning anyone's name directly, Yograj simply said that the dressing culture Team India used to have was completely destroyed around 2011.

In the past, Singh repeatedly criticized former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for several reasons. This time, when he mentioned the 2011 World Cup and the time around, cricket fans guessed who Yograj could've talked about. He said that even when Sourav Ganguly was the leader of the team, there was a combination of new and experienced cricketers, all sharing the dressing room like family members. But all of a sudden, in 2011, especially after the ODI World Cup, things started to change and the culture was gone, said Yograj. 

In his own words, "We (team India) burned our own houses to stand for one person. Team India used to be like a family of older brothers and younger brothers (experienced & youngsters). But it all changed because of one person."

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Mohinder Amarnath wanted to sack MS Dhoni in 2011!

The straightforward former pointed out when Mohinder Amarnath, who then (2011, 2012) was the BCCI selector, wanted to sack MS Singh. Yuvraj's father claimed that right after winning the World Cup, the board selectors one by one decided to let go of the legends of the dressing room. 

"You (BCCI selectors) just destroyed these boys for no reason. Boys like Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Kaif, VVS Laxman, and Rahul Dravid. You just made them go after 2011," Yograj said in an interview. 

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket came suddenly. But they could've continued playing for 5 more years, believed Yograj Singh, former India international and father of Yuvraj Singh. 

While Virat is able to maintain the highest order and is active at the age of 36, Rohit's fitness remains a concern. To increase the fitness level, Yograj claimed that he advised Rohit on some tips, like waking up early in the morning and working hard physically. 

According to the latest media report, Singh said, "Virat and Rohit shouldn’t have retired from Tests. I told Rohit to get up at 5 AM and run for 20 km to keep himself fit. Virat and Rohit can still play for another 5 years in Test cricket. They should have played. They should be there to see that the baton is passed to the youngsters. The baton has not been passed; it has been thrown to Gill." 

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Rohit and Virat's retirements from the longest format of the game put pressure on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (India), as Team India is scheduled to play England from June 20. At first, the board officials had to find a suitable candidate for the captaincy role. For that, they chose Shubman Gill. Though Kohli's replacement is yet to be confirmed. 

Baton thrown to Gill!

Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, and Virat's announcement came on May 12, which offered very little time to BCCI to restore the Test setup, and the team now has been going through the transition phase in a sudden manner. For that reason, Yograj said, "They should be there to see that the baton is passed to the youngsters." The baton has not been passed; it has been thrown to Gill." 

From June 20, India will face England at Leeds for the first match of the five-match Test series. The series will test Gill as the captain and the team's resilience and performance without Sharma and Kohli. 

When the entire cricketing world was stunned to see a 14-year-old boy create havoc in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025), Yograj Singh, father of former Indian international Yuvraj Singh, made some shocking comments in an interview.

Yograj was clearly not impressed with the lightning-fast innings by the batter recruited by Rajasthan Royals (RR). Vaibhav Suryavanshi, at just 14 years and 23 days, made his IPL debut in RR colors against Lucknow Super Giants. Nine days after the debut game, Suryavanshi showed what he could do with the bat. The cricketer from Bihar encrypted the fastest hundred in the history of the tournament by an Indian batsman. The record-breaking ton against Gujarat Titans came after playing only 35 deliveries.

Overall, Suryavanshi bagged a total of 252 runs for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Even after the conclusion of IPL 2025, recent reports suggested that he smashed 190 runs off just 90 balls in BCCI's Center of Excellence, Bengaluru, ahead of the India U19 tour to England. 

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Yograj's thoughts about the future of Vaibhav Suryavanshi

After all that, Yograj was not impressed. Because he wanted to scale a batter according to the standards of a Test match. 

"My vision is Test cricket. Can you survive five days? That's the real test. 50 overs—fair enough. 20 overs—fair enough. I don't go by these formats. But since they (formats) are there, you should be fit enough to play all three formats. Why do you struggle? Because you are only concentrating on T20, IPL, and 50 overs. Aaj toh 50 overs bhi nahi khel sakte hum log (Today, we cannot even play 50 overs). That's the way we are," Yograj said via Insidesport.

The amount of talent Vinod Kambli possessed, cricket fans are still wondering how massive he could be. Without a disciplined daily life or routine, no one can sustain for a long time; Kambli was not exceptional. Still, at present, his controversial lifestyle has become a talking point among cricket fans.

The downfall of Vinod Kambli is a lesson for every budding sportsman, especially for the young cricketers. Former cricketer and father of former India international Yuvraj Singh, Yograj Singh has recalled some incidents about Vinod Kambli.

Yograj claimed on camera that he warned Kambli multiple times about his bad habits and poor lifestyle, but Kambli was then in a different dimension and did not care about any suggestions.

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Singh said in an interview, "I suggested Vinod Kambli stop partying, smoking cigarettes, and going to the girls; otherwise, you will be finished, and you will be crying." He told me that now he is the king and that my time is over." 

Played his last Test before 24

When Kambli was young and about to come under the spotlight, people were crazy to see his footwork. The Mumbaikar's Test career took very little time to launch. In his first seven Tests, he got two double centuries and two single ones. During that cricketing era, Kambili's batting style and flashy shot-making were new to the cricket world.

Once, he smashed legendary Shane Warne for 22 runs in an over but played his last Test in 1995 before he had turned 24. In fact, he never got the chance to play an ODI match for India after October 2000 and retired from international cricket in 2009. 

Watch the interview here

🚨INSIDESPORT EXCLUSIVE🚨

YOGRAJ SINGH SAID:

“I suggested Vinod Kambli to stop partying, smoking cigarettes and going to the girls, otherwise you will be finished and you will be crying. He told me that now he is the king and that my time was over” #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/hx0KQNBVzC

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) June 11, 2025