Yuvraj Singh is a true role model reckons VVS Laxman

In 2011, India’s flamboyant cricketer Yuvraj Singh certainly had a tough time fighting through the deadly cancer treatment. He successfully conquered the disease with proper care and courage. Yuvraj was inspired by former cyclist Lance Armstrong who achieved several records in his career as well and was also diagnosed with the same kind of a tumour in 1996. Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman acknowledged the fighting spirit of the Indian left-hander.

Laxman praised Yuvraj for his contributions to India’s 2011 World Cup winning campaign, despite his illness during the mega event. The stylish Hyderabadi batsman considers Yuvraj as a fine role model who taught everyone that strength cannot be developed without witnessing struggles and hardships in life. Yuvi had his share of struggles in the early times of his comeback from the deadly illness, but the batter showed his vintage stroke making in that 150 runs career-best knock against England, last year in the ODI series.

“One of the role models is my good friend Yuvraj Singh. It (his illness) was a shock to all of us. Because, I still remember, we were in England. This was in 2011. We could not believe that Yuvraj Singh, he played the World Cup with all the symptoms and he was the Man of the Series. Then he was detected with cancer and it came as a rude shock to all of us,” said Laxman at the launch of a book on cancer survivors.

Everybody can do it

T20 World Cup 2007 win, six sixes in an over against England, vice-captain of Indian cricket team for (ODI) 2007-2008 are some of the great achievements for Yuvi who is regarded as one of India’s limited-overs greats. VVS also stated that if his friend Yuvraj can make a comeback after surviving cancer, other people all over the world can also do the same. “You are the most flamboyant,

“You are the most flamboyant, heart-throb of the country and you are detected with cancer. But, he showed example to others. That, if Yuvraj Singh, the international cricketer can fight cancer, come back and win matches for the country…(others can also do it),” he said.

The book launch was a gathering accompanied with some short videos containing messages from Singh and Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, another cancer survivor. VVS also discussed the works of the cancer specialist, Vijay Anand Reddy, who wrote the book, ‘I am a survivor’.