Yuvraj Singh is widely regarded as one of the legends of cricket, known for his dynamic all-rounder capabilities and as one of India's premier match-winners in limited-overs formats. He played a pivotal role in India's triumphs in the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 ODI World Cup, establishing himself as a crucial player during critical moments. Notably, during the inaugural 2007 World T20, he captured attention by hitting six consecutive sixes off Stuart Broad. In the 2011 World Cup, he made history as the first player to achieve both a five-wicket haul and a half-century in the same match of the tournament, accumulating 362 runs across nine matches with an impressive average of 90.50. On the bowling side, he claimed 15 wickets at an economy rate of 5.02, earning the title of Player of the Tournament. Following the 2011 World Cup, Yuvraj faced a significant health challenge when he was diagnosed with a stage-1 cancerous tumor in his left lung, leading to chemotherapy treatment. After a lengthy recovery, he returned to the sport in December 2012, although he struggled to regain his peak performance and was not selected for the 2013 Champions Trophy.

With Virat Kohli taking over as captain, Yuvraj attempted another comeback but was ultimately dropped after a disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy and a subsequent tour of the West Indies in 2017. In a discussion on Lallantop, former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa, who played alongside both Yuvraj and Kohli, reflected on Yuvraj's recovery from cancer while contrasting Kohli's leadership style with that of Rohit Sharma. Rohit currently faces significant pressure following India's defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and is reportedly at risk of losing the captaincy.

Robin Uthappa tears into Virat Kohli

Virat's approach to captaincy was distinctive in that it required others to elevate themselves to his level. This encompassed various aspects such as fitness, dietary habits, and the willingness to listen and agree, all of which had to align with his high standards. There are essentially two types of leaders: those who establish a standard and expect others to meet it, and those who choose to meet individuals at their current level and then guide them towards the desired standards. 

Both leadership styles can yield results, yet the effects on team members may differ significantly. One approach tends to foster a sense of value among team members, while the other may leave some feeling disappointed.

Virat Kohli's role in Yuvraj Singh's India axing revealed

Uthappa expressed his candid views regarding Kohli's captaincy, subtly attributing Yuvraj's exclusion from the Indian team to Kohli's decisions. He referenced Yuvraj's battle with cancer and his efforts to return to international cricket, highlighting Yuvraj's significant contributions, including his role in securing two World Cups for India. Uthappa criticized Kohli for suggesting that Yuvraj's lung capacity had declined, despite having witnessed his struggles firsthand. He emphasized that while maintaining standards is essential for a captain, there should be exceptions for players like Yuvraj, who have overcome tremendous personal challenges.

Uthappa further criticized Kohli for not allowing Yuvraj sufficient time to regain his place in the national team and for lacking flexibility in fitness assessments. He recounted that Yuvraj had requested a two-point reduction in the fitness test requirements, which was denied by Kohli. Consequently, Yuvraj took the test, passed it, but subsequently had a disappointing tournament and was excluded from the team without further consideration. Uthappa noted that during this period, Kohli's strong leadership style influenced the decisions made by the leadership group, which did not support Yuvraj.

In contrasting Kohli's leadership with that of Rohit Sharma, Uthappa characterized Kohli's approach as 'exclusive' while describing Rohit's as 'inclusive'. He also mentioned that he had not played under Kohli's captaincy.

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