NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh is always known for his outspoken and often contentious remarks. He has consistently targeted former Indian captain MS Dhoni, holding him responsible for the downfall of his son Yuvraj Singh’s international career.
Recently, Yograj has once again garnered attention due to his comments about Sachin Tendulkar’s son, Arjun, who sought Yograj’s guidance to improve his cricketing skills.
In a recent interview, when questioned about his experience training Arjun, Yograj’s response sparked controversy.
The video of his statement went viral, in which he said: “Aapne heera dekha hai koyle ki khan mein? Wo koyla hi hai. [Have you seen a diamond in a coal mine? He is the coal]”.
Yograj’s blunt assessment of Arjun’s cricketing abilities has generated significant buzz in the cricketing community and beyond. His comparison of Arjun to coal in a coal mine has been met with mixed reactions, with some criticizing his harsh words while others defend his right to express his opinion based on his experience as a coach.
“Nikalo patthar hi hai, kisi tarashgir ke haath me dalo to chamak ke duniya ko kohinoor ban jata hai (It is coal that is rock when taken out from a mine, but if it is given in proper hands, it goes on to become Kohinoor. It is priceless. But if that same diamond reaches a person who does not know its worth, he destroys it. I don’t say it myself that Yograj Singh is a great crafter, Yuvraj Singh says it, ‘there is magic in my dad’s hand, he made me what I am.’ Earlier, I was abused ‘Hitler, Dragon Singh, I hate my father’. Everybody hated me in my home. My relatives said, I should not have been a father,” Yograj Singh replied.
“But he walked his path. And by God’s Grace you got Yuvraj Singh,” he said.
After the recent remarks by Yograj on Dhoni, a video of his son Yuvraj has gone viral, in which the World Cup-winner was saying that his father has ‘mental issues’.
Yuvraj, India’s 2011 World Cup hero, expressed concern over his father’s various statements, suggesting that his father has “mental issues” and is unwilling to accept it. Yuvraj made these comments during a podcast, signaling his discomfort with his father’s persistent accusations.
“I think my father has mental issues and he just doesn’t want to accept it,” Yuvraj had said in a podcast.
Yuvraj’s cricket career, spanning 17 years, was marked by significant achievements, including pivotal roles in India’s victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup.