No longer looking over his shoulder

Doubts about his status as a Test player have repeatedly been expressed during his decade-long international career. But 2011 has shown signs that the tide is gradually turning in the gifted left-handers favour. The intense focus that he showed during Indias journey to the World Cup made many feel that Yuvraj was now ready to wear the flannels. Those predictions were proving prophetic.

Post-World Cup,in the only Test he played in Indias forgettable series on England,he scored a fine 62 on a pace-friendly Trent Bridge pitch before he broke his fingers. Yuvrajs Test jinx had surfaced once again.

When Sourav Ganguly called it a day in November 2008,Yuvraj was the imminent cover against instability caused by the vacuum created. In the twilight of his career,Ganguly had dropped down a place and occupied the No.6 spot. This berth was his for the taking,or so the Yuvraj fans believed.

Yet,three years after Gangulys retirement,a fully fit India teams batting line-up invariably carries a question mark. Sehwag,Gambhir,Dravid,Tendulkar,Laxman,?,Dhoni.

In the post Ganguly era,Yuvraj,Suresh Raina,Cheteshwar Pujara have all aspired to become the No.6,but combination of factors loss of form and injury-induced breaks have resulted in lack of permanency at that position.

No debate

In his latest comeback after recovering from a fractured finger,Yuvraj believes he can end debate over the No.6 spot. I have had a decent One-day career but when I retire,I want to do so as a Test cricketer, Yuvraj said looking ahead.

Of immediate concern will be to perform against West Indies at home in favourable conditions. Its unfortunate that injury and illness havent allowed me to play as much Test cricket as I would have liked recently. At times I have failed to grab my opportunities but there have been occasions when I have made important runs in Test cricket, Yuvraj said summing up his Test career till date.

The runs he was talking about were made in Chennai,Mohali,Napier,Wellington,Kanpur and Galle as he started to show the consistency that comes with the knowledge of knowing that one doesnt have to constantly look over ones shoulder after a berth opened up in the India Test squad once Ganguly retired.

But illness and injury in a year in which he was also dropped from the ODI side briefly,robbed him of further opportunity.

Musical chairs

Suresh Rainas debut,while batting at No.6,was memorable. Being a south-paw and a dasher with the bat,he seemed to be the right replacement. With scores of 120 and 62 on debut in Colombo,after he broke into the Playing XI as Yuvraj had a bout of dengue fever,Raina overtook Yuvraj in the race to fill the slot.

Raina never quiet achieved the consistency. He played his first seven Tests in the sub-continent but diminishing returns in terms of runs meant he had run out of time when he failed in both innings of the first Test against South Africa in Centurion last year.

Rainas place went to Pujara. Impressive on debut with 72 at No.3,Pujara too only briefly flirted with the No.6 spot in South Africa. But a knee injury opened the doors again for Raina and Yuvraj,who made a comeback on the strength of his World-Cup winning performances. Rainas out of favour again,while Pujara has to claw his way back into contention after a knee surgery. A batsman peaks between 30 and 38. I believe my best years are ahead of me, Yuvraj said. He will turn 30 as India flies into Australia in early December.