ICC Cricket World Cup:<\/b> A day after being named assistant and batting coach of Delhi Capitals, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has set clear targets for his first season -- instilling a culture at the franchise and claiming the title in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As he prepares to embark on his first formal coaching assignment, the star all-rounder says he wants to achieve with Delhi Capitals \u2014 build a team that believes in itself, competes under pressure and has the conviction to win the championship.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yuvraj returns to the Delhi franchise with a renewed purpose, joining hands with Sourav Ganguly, Head Coach of Delhi Capitals, with whom he shares a long-standing relationship dating back to the early years of his international career.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Revealing how the opportunity came about, Yuvraj said, \u201cDada told me, \u2018Would you be my assistant?\u2019 And I was like, \u2018I\u2019ve been your assistant for the last 25 years, so I\u2019ll probably be doing the same job!\u2019 I was very happy to do it. I\u2019ve been building myself up over the last three to four years for this opportunity.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I have worked with players individually, but being part of the entire team environment will be a different experience, and I\u2019m really excited about it,\u201d Yuvraj was quoted as saying in a release by Delhi Capitals on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Yuvraj, the reunion also presents an opportunity to work alongside Ganguly once again, this time in a coaching setup. Having made his international debut under Ganguly\u2019s captaincy, the former India all-rounder believes the ability to build a strong team environment remains one of his former captain\u2019s greatest strengths.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe best thing I learnt from Dada was how to create a good team environment. When he was captain and I made my debut, he kept us together. He made us believe that we could become a great team and win tournaments outside India. He has always been like a big brother to me, whether it was helping me understand selection, mentoring me, or showing me what it takes to become a good international cricketer. I\u2019m looking forward to working with him, understanding his insights and sharing mine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A two-time World Cup winner and one of the key architects of India\u2019s triumphs at the 2007 ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, Yuvraj brings extensive experience of performing on the biggest stages. As he transitions into coaching, he believes instilling self-belief in players will be central to his approach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAt this level, everybody is skilled and brings something different to the table. But I come from a place where self-belief is extremely important. If a franchise has selected you and given you a position in the squad, it means they believe in you. You have to believe that you belong there. That comes through practice, awareness of the game and playing matches. We will work on these things as a team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yuvraj also expressed confidence in the batting resources available to Delhi Capitals, highlighting the importance of building the right combination and ensuring the team is equipped to deliver across all departments.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cKL Rahul is a solid player whom I\u2019ve watched for a long time, and Tristan Stubbs is very exciting. There are also players like Sameer Rizvi and Ashutosh Sharma, who are very good hitters. We have good batting resources, but we need to work on the right team combination and make the side stronger and more versatile, with deeper batting, quality bowling and good fielding. Every aspect of the game matters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having experienced the disappointment of not qualifying for the playoffs during his previous stint as a player with the franchise, Yuvraj is determined to help Delhi Capitals approach the upcoming season with a renewed sense of purpose. While qualification remains the immediate objective, he believes the team must set its sights on the ultimate prize.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe definitely have the ability, and that\u2019s why Dada and I are coming in \u2014 to bring that belief back. Our first target is to qualify, but we are here to win the championship, and I don\u2019t see why we can\u2019t do that. Just because it hasn\u2019t happened in the past doesn\u2019t mean it can\u2019t happen in the future. We want to build a squad and an energy that is ready to fight, take on any opposition and perform in any situation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Yuvraj, the role goes beyond technical guidance or improving individual performances. It is about preparing the players to handle pressure, trust their abilities and give their best for the franchise, working in tandem with Ganguly and the wider coaching and support staff.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI want to help the boys play better cricket, perform under pressure and build a squad that believes in itself. I\u2019m here to put my heart and soul into the franchise. Hopefully, with the contribution of the entire team management and the players, we can take Delhi Capitals forward, qualify for the playoffs and then go on to win the championship,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yuvraj\u2019s appointment marks a new chapter in his association with Delhi Capitals. Having represented the franchise, then known as Delhi Daredevils, in the 2015 IPL season, he now returns with the experience of a celebrated international career and the ambition to help shape the team\u2019s next phase alongside Head Coach Sourav Ganguly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI want to help the boys play better cricket, perform under pressure and build a squad that believes in itself. I\u2019m here to put my heart and soul into the franchise. Hopefully, with the contribution of the entire team management and the players, we can take Delhi Capitals forward, qualify for the playoffs and then go on to win the championship,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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