Yuvi’s masterclass inspiresUP’s next gen cricketers | Lucknow News

Lucknow: Under the bright afternoon sun at the Ekana stadium, Indian legendary allrounder Yuvraj Singh filled hundreds of budding cricketers with vigour and enthusiasm, mentoring them with fielding, bowling and batting drills during a special masterclass on Monday.Addressing aspiring cricketers, Yuvraj recalled an early memory that shaped his journey. “My first bat was given to me by my father, who said, ‘From today, play with this only’. With that bat, I hit a six which struck a person. He started chasing me and I left the bat and ran away,” he said with a laugh, adding that the man later returned the bat.Beyond anecdotes, the 2011 World Cup hero stressed the importance of resilience. “You need someone who can show you the path to improvement. I’ve always looked up to my seniors, especially Sachin Tendulkar, in terms of handling physical and mental battles,” he said.Yuvraj, who has worked closely with youngsters like Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh and J&K’s Abdul Samad, said talent alone is not enough. “You need to nurture the mental side. I played the Ranji Trophy and for India, but there was a phase when I was dropped. Speaking to Sachin gave me clarity. That’s what mentorship does,” he added.Highlighting the rise of Jammu & Kashmir in domestic cricket, he noted how the region has progressed despite once struggling for basic equipment. “Today they have created history. Earlier, many didn’t even have proper kits, but they kept moving forward,” he said.UP senior women’s player Bharti Sharma from Bulandshahr said, “I am happy to meet Yuvraj. He motivated us and taught us catching, bowling and grips.”The initiative marked the expansion of DP World’s Beyond Boundaries programme in Uttar Pradesh, with the delivery of a repurposed shipping container pavilion and distribution of 250 cricket kits to identified academies across the state.Unveiled in the presence of Yuvraj, the container pavilion will be permanently housed at Sage Cricket Academy.