‘I’m nothing like Yograj Singh’ - Yuvraj Singh on comparison to father’s coaching approach

Indian veteran all-rounder Yuvraj Singh insists that his approach to coaching is strikingly different from that of his father, Yograj Singh. While Yuvraj may not be a certified coach, his contributions to Indian cricket arguably place him among the country’s most influential mentors.

Players like Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill are prime examples of the Yuvraj school of development. Although Yuvraj never formally coached them, he worked closely with both from their early days. Today, Gill leads the Indian ODI and Test teams, while Abhishek has risen to become the ICC No. 1 T20I batter in a short span of time.

Yuvraj’s coaching philosophy is fundamentally different from his father’s. Yograj Singh is known for his strict discipline and tough-love methods, whereas Yuvraj emphasises mentorship, encouragement, and individualised guidance. The two-time World Cup winner has explained in detail how he nurtures young talent, highlighting a more player-centric and empathetic approach. Even today, Yograj’s remarks about the players he trains often contrast sharply with his son’s supportive methods.

"I am definitely nothing like Yograj Singh. I am a very different person, and a very different personality. My style of coaching is very different. I believe when you are coaching someone or mentoring someone, you need to be in their shoes and you need to understand their mindset, what they are going through, rather than telling them what to do. It has to be like a push and pull. You take some and you give some. So it is important to understand how to be in the head of a 19-year-old," Yuvraj said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Yuvraj’s stories of being subjected to his father’s strictness are well-known. On one infamous occasion, Yograj reportedly threw away Yuvraj’s skating shoes, leaving him with no choice but to take up cricket and pursue a professional career. In 2000, under Mohammad Kaif’s captaincy, Yuvraj won the Under-19 World Cup before making his India debut.

He went on to become a legend of Indian cricket, staying true to his own methods and philosophy. Reflecting on his youth, Yuvraj recalls that few people truly understood a teenager’s mindset, which shaped his player-centric approach as a mentor and coach today.

"When I was 19 years old, nobody understood the challenges that I was facing, so when I see a 19 or a 20-year-old, I know what challenges they are facing mentally, and it is about listening to them, understanding their mindset and working accordingly rather than telling them what to do," said Yuvraj.