Yuvraj Singh's Masterclass: Why Golf Could Have Added 3000 Runs and Years to My Cricket Career

Cricket legend Yuvraj Singh, known for his explosive batting and match-winning performances, has offered a rather unconventional piece of advice to two of Indian cricket's most promising young talents, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma: take up golf. But this isn't just a casual suggestion; Yuvraj firmly believes that incorporating golf into his own routine could have dramatically extended his career and, in his words, added a staggering 3000 more runs to his illustrious tally.

Yuvraj, reflecting on his own journey riddled with injuries, particularly to his knees and back, expressed a profound regret.

"If I had played golf, I wouldn't have faced so many injuries," he mused during a candid conversation. He elaborated on how the repetitive, high-impact nature of cricket, especially as an all-rounder, took a severe toll on his body. He sees golf as a critical counter-balance, a sport that strengthens core muscles, improves flexibility, and enhances overall body rotation – elements crucial for both injury prevention and peak performance on the cricket field.

The southpaw emphasized the holistic benefits of golf, highlighting its capacity to engage muscles that are often neglected in traditional cricket training.

"It’s not just about hitting the ball; it’s about the full body movement, the controlled power, and the mental discipline," he explained. He believes that had he embraced the greens earlier, his body would have been more resilient, allowing him to bypass many of the physical setbacks that forced him off the field prematurely during critical phases of his career.

His advice to Gill and Sharma isn't merely an anecdote from his past; it's a forward-looking strategy for athlete longevity.

Yuvraj sees them as possessing immense potential and wants them to learn from his experiences. By engaging in a sport like golf, which demands precision, focus, and a different kind of physical exertion, they can develop a more well-rounded athletic profile, reducing the strain on their primary cricketing muscles and joints.

This proactive approach to fitness and recovery, according to Yuvraj, is paramount in today's demanding cricketing landscape.

In essence, Yuvraj Singh's message transcends golf itself. It's a powerful statement about the importance of diverse physical activities for professional athletes, a reminder that cross-training isn't just about building strength, but about intelligent injury management and career sustainment.

For Gill and Sharma, it's a golden nugget of wisdom from a legend who understands the physical and mental rigors of the game intimately, urging them to swing a club not just for leisure, but for a longer, more resilient cricketing future.