IPL in SA will be bigger than last year: Yuvraj

NEW DELHI: Yuvraj Singh did not get too many big scores on the New Zealand tour but the stylish southpaw says his confidence has not been dented. 

Will power and self-belief have always helped Yuvi rebound from difficult situations. Now, he is ready to deliver in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in South Africa. The Punjab Kings XI skipper spoke to TOI on Thursday about his form, IPL and India’s recent victory in New Zealand. 

Excerpts: 

Are you happy with Kings XI’s team balance? 

We have a good team this season. The only worry is the pace department. A couple of pacers are coming back from injuries while Sree Santh has been ruled out. But I am confident that the rest of the squad will rise to the occasion. We have a good batting line-up with the likes of Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Shaun Marsh. Besides, we also have Ravi Bopara this year who can also bowl a bit. 

What are your expectations from your team this time? 

We reached IPL’s semi-final last year, but hope to perform better this year. I am keen to test my skills with the bat and enjoy the Twenty20 format again. Individual feats look nice only if your team is doing well, so it’s important to score consistently to win matches. 

What kind of pitches are you expecting in South Africa? 

Pitches are going to be great for batting barring Durban which is a bouncy track. Johannesburg and East London have perfect batting conditions while the pitch in Cape Town is slightly on the slower side. It’s going to be fun for the spectators. The fans can expect a lot of runs. 

Do you think IPL will be a hit in South Africa as well? 

Why not? It’s going to be bigger than last year for sure. The Indian fan base in South Africa is huge and we are expecting them to turn up and support their city teams. I am sure that the Punjabi community settled in South Africa will support us. Similarly, those originally from Mumbai would certainly come for Mumbai’s matches. Some Indian fans will also fly down to South Africa. 

Are you disappointed with your performance in New Zealand? 

I could have done better, but you can’t score big in every series when you are a strokemaker... I hope to make amends in the upcoming matches. What’s important is that the team won the One-day as well as the Test series after several years. 

What are your thoughts on Gautam Gambhir’s form in the Test series? 

Gambhir has gone one level up and I am not surprised. The innings at Napier was really special. He knows when to shift gears, which is a must at the highest level. 

And Harbhajan Singh? 

I can only remember one or two instances when he bowled bad deliveries. Otherwise, he was just immaculate. I am not saying this because he got those crucial wickets in the Test series, but because he pitched the ball in the right areas throughout the series.