Yuvraj Singh doesn’t know how to give up. It is just not in his system. The last five years of his life encapsulate his immortal fighting spirit. And he has done it again. He has fought his way back into the Indian team, for the three-match T20I series in Australia. Yuvraj last played for India in the final of the 2014 World Twenty20. In that game he scored 11 off 21 balls and did not bowl. India lost to Sri Lanka by six wickets. It hit Yuvraj where it hurts the most. “I didn’t end it well in 2014; I had a bad run in the final, and that was always at the back of my mind,” he says of that match. It was time to get back to the grinds of domestic cricket – get fitter, stronger and among runs. Lots of runs. In the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy, he has 398 runs from seven games with a highest score of 187. In the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (India’s domestic one-day tournament) Yuvraj notched up 346 runs in six matches to take Punjab to the knockouts.

Now, with the World Twenty20 looming, India’s search for a genuine match-winning all-rounder has taken them back to Yuvraj. His eyes set on the blue jersey that he will don again, Yuvraj Singh spoke to BCCI.TV about the process through which he found his way back to where he belongs.

How does it feel when you have worked so hard to get somewhere and finally that day arrives?

It feels good to be back. It has been a while since I have represented my country. I really had to fight it out and get some good scores in domestic cricket to prove myself again. It has all paid off.

Last year you said you weren’t quite playing to the best of your ability. But now, with the amount of runs you have scored, do you think you are there again? When you play international cricket for 13-14 years, it is always tough to maintain one level. Especially with my body – I have worked really hard in the last two-three years since my recovery – it has been up and down. But this year at the domestic stage I have been batting really well, especially in the one-dayers, and I am feeling really good. I really believe that if I get a number of opportunities, I can deliver again. You played your last international match in April 2014. Since then you have done everything in your power to find your way back. Did you, always in your heart, believe that you will play for India again? Definitely. I didn’t end it well in 2014; I had a bad run in the final, and that was always at the back of my mind. I had to really work on my fitness, fielding and batting. I have done that in the last year and a half, and hopefully the results will show in the coming seasons. Going back to domestic cricket after scaling the highest peaks of international cricket is tough. But was it also good to get back to where you began and play the game just for the love of it? Yes, you want to play the game till you enjoy it, whether you are playing at the domestic or international level. It is hard to motivate yourself to play domestic cricket but you also have to realise that it is the only way back. That was my motivation key to do well at that level – having an eye on the prize. Also, your presence in the Punjab team would have helped a lot of youngsters. Gurkeerat Mann and Barinder Sran have made it to the Indian ODI squad. You must be proud of these boys.

I am extremely happy for Barinder; he is a very good left-armer, and I have been watching him since he played U-19 and U-23 cricket. He has been bowling really well and now has the opportunity to represent India. Gurkeerat has been doing well for us for quite a while now. I hope when these boys do get an opportunity, they step up to the plate and do well for India. Some of your old India team-mates like Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra have fought their way back as well. Bhajji is a legend and he definitely deserved another chance. He bowled really well in the ODI series against South Africa. He has been there for a while now. And Ashish, more than myself I am happy for him. I have watched him since the initial days of my career when we started to play together. He has battled a lot of injuries and worked insanely hard always. Recently, I would say that he was the best bowler in the last two IPL seasons. It is heartening to see him get rewarded for that and I am thrilled for him. So many people draw inspiration from your life and your never-say-die spirit. When you were trying to get back in the Indian team, did you draw inspiration from your own past battles and how you overcame them? Yes. That (cancer) was the toughest battle and I was lucky enough to overcome it. I showed resistance to come out of it, and I understand that I give a lot of inspiration to those who have been diagnosed and are going through what I went through. It’s true; I told myself that if I can fight that, I can surely fight my way back to the Indian squad as well. You told me during the last phase of your recovery that the whole experience has changed your attitude towards life. Have you changed as a cricketer in any way?

You have to evolve and understand how to get the best out of yourself. Cricket is very basic. The most important thing is to keep your basics strong and feel good about yourself when you are on the field. You have to keep adding to that and grow each day. But as long as you don’t waver from your basics, you will be fine.

What is the biggest lesson that cricket has taught you?

Every individual, every player is good in his own right. There are some great ones and some average ones. One thing I have realised in all these years is that nobody is greater than the game. I have seen so many ups and downs, played in so many great tournaments and won matches for India. But the moment you feel like you’re doing very well and that you own the game, the game puts you in your place. It pulls you down and tells you where you actually stand. Cricket is phenomenal. It keeps your feet on the ground.

Is that coming from personal experience? Yes, when you are batting well, you think you are just going to go out there and make it happen. But one good ball, one bad day for the team, and it puts you back to square one. You have to start all over again. You can never take this game for granted. It is very similar to life in general, isn’t it?

Absolutely. Life keeps changing, and so does cricket. No two days are the same. You always have to keep pushing. Anyone who has handled cricket for a long period can surely handle life better. This is the new wind of your career; a fresh start. Where to now for Yuvraj Singh?

I set myself a few goals in the last couple of years. I achieved some and couldn’t achieve a few. So, now I am just going to go with the flow. I am starting off with T20Is and whatever opportunity I get, I am going to give it my all. I just want to do well for the country again in all three departments. I want to win matches for India again. But it must be impossible not to have the World Twenty20 on your mind. You have memories of that tournament that you will never forget. Oh, yes, definitely. We won the tournament in 2007 and we really enjoyed every bit of it. The whole country was thrilled for us. If we can repeat that somehow, after the 2011 World Cup, it would be a huge victory for the guys.