Yuvraj Singh - An ODI Great who Drew a Blank in IPL

Yuvraj Singh: Not the most effective IPL player!

© BCCI

Matches – 14, Runs – 248, Highest – 57, Average – 19.07, Strike Rate – 118.09 – that’s what Delhi Daredevils got for their Rs. 16 crore this year.

Yuvraj Singh, the man who made the biggest headlines during the 2015 Indian Premier League auctions, had an ordinary tournament. (Kings XI Punjab’s Big Names and Bigger Flops)

With various television channels running Yuvraj Singh’s earnings-to-run ratio, let’s pass a fair judgement on him – he didn’t ask for that money, Delhi paid it. Delhi paid that amount knowing that the stylish left-hander is way past his prime. Delhi broke their bank with full knowledge that an out-of-form Yuvraj Singh cannot revive their IPL fortunes.

Delhi knew it all. Yet they went for him. (Chennai vs Mumbai Qualifier 1: Top-Five Battles)

They even justified their spending as ‘determined’ by the market.

“I think we talk about Rs 14 crore-Rs 16 crore but that’s all a market place. As Yuvraj had rightly said (in Vizag) that he never asked for that price. It was a market place,” the Daredevils CEO Hemant Dua explained. But the question remains – why would the market demand of an average IPL player be so much?

Yuvraj Singh has been a genuine match-winner wearing the Indian blues. From his very first innings in international cricket, Yuvraj has been a phenomena in Indian cricket but has he been that effective in the IPL?

Let’s crunch some numbers. (BCCI Not Amused After Virat Kohli Ignores Rules)

Overall IPL career: Matches – 98, Runs 2099, Highest – 83, Average 25.28, Strike rate – 129.88

Now let’s break it down into seasons.

2008 – 15 matches, 299 runs at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 162.50

2009 – 14 matches, 340 runs at an average of 28.33 and a strike rate of 115.64

2010 – 14 matches, 255 runs at an average of 21.25 and a strike rate of 128.14

2011 – 14 matches, 343 runs at an average of 34.30 and a strike rate of 131.41

2013 – 13 matches, 238 runs at an average of 19.83 and a strike rate of 125.26

2014 – 14 matches, 376 runs at an average of 34.18 and a strike rate of 135.25

Yuvraj Singh’s fielding efforts have been dismal this season

© BCCI

The eighth season is no different. Forget the Orange cap, in none of the seven seasons he’s played, Yuvraj has never scored 400 runs in the IPL. If you put his record against someone like Suresh Raina — who has gone past 400 runs in every IPL season with a career strike rate of 140 — Yuvraj doesn’t measure up as a threat in the IPL. Of course, he bats much lower down the order than Raina or Rohit Sharma but a career strike rate of 129.88 from India’s one of the hardest hitters leaves much to be desired.

So, strictly following the numbers, Yuvraj should never have commanded a price tag that high. He did because the teams in the auction went for brand ‘Yuvraj’ instead of focussing on the numbers.

In India, emotions win over stats and Yuvraj surely touches the emotional chord of a nation. Delhi, a faltering IPL side, tried to revamp their side and reconnect with its fans by roping in one of the biggest box-office cricketer from India. They chose Yuvraj to lure back their fans but forgot that big names seldom win you trophies. In-form players do.

Throwing money at stars has never bore fruit in any sport – even the Galacticos won zilch! In terms of money, Delhi Daredevils ended up paying over Rs.8 lakh per run scored by him this season.

Buying players is an art. Building a team is like painting a picture – one needs to blend the broad strokes with the finer ones.

Yuvraj has been immensely successful at the biggest stage of the game. He has won India numerous games. There’s been no doubting his skills as a cricketer, neither there’s any denying his passion for the game. He’s a treat for the eyes with the willow in hand, his on-field demeanor is worth savouring and his utility as an all-rounder is a prized possession for any side.

However, Yuvraj is not the same match-winner anymore, in fact he never was a match-winner in the IPL. All the franchises he’s represented over IPL career have failed to go anywhere near the crown.

This IPL exposed him even more – his powers with the willow has waned and his gentle left-arm overs don’t have the penetration anymore but what saddened every cricket fan during this year was his lackluster fielding efforts.

Yuvraj has been a fantastic limited overs cricketer for India but in the IPL, he has failed to live up to his name, almost every season.