Prabhsimran Singh and Yuvraj Singh NEW DELHI: Yuvraj Singh’s influence on the current generation of Indian batsmen is rarely loud but often unmistakable. His imprint runs through some of the most exciting batting in Indian cricket today – from Shubman Gill’s composure to Abhishek Sharma’s no-holds-barred game and Sanju Samson’s evolving assurance. In many ways, Yuvraj has slipped into a role that is not officially defined by Indian cricket. Part mentor, part sounding board, part big brother. Players move in and out of its orbit, sometimes for a session, sometimes for a certain stage of their career, and carry small but telling adjustments with them. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Prabhsimran Singh has now entered this quietly influential ecosystem. Long regarded as a talent waiting to emerge, the Punjab Kings wicket-keeper batsman now finds himself closer to clarity and perhaps closer to the ultimate prize he is talking about with growing conviction: a place in the senior Indian team. “My relationship with Yuvi paaji is not really like that of a coach or a student… I have a big brother relationship with him,” Prabhsimran said during an interaction organized by Kings of Punjab on Thursday. “And yes, Priyansh (Arya) and I trained under him recently. It was Priyansh’s first time training with him.” “Whenever I’m free, I just call him and say, ‘Paaji, we’re free right now and we want to work out with you.’ and he will arrange it. Be it in Mohali or Gurgaon, he manages everything himself.” “The thing with him is that even if we have to call him at 3 or 4 in the morning, we can; that’s the kind of freedom he’s given us. So, like I said, it’s a big brother relationship. We talk a lot and we can share anything with him without hesitation,” the 25-year-old added. For a player like Prabhsimran, long considered a talent-in-waiting, that ease seems to have translated into clarity. Not necessarily in extensive technical fixes, but in finer calibrations. “He gave me tips and it’s mainly about how I play at a particular moment. What I should do with my technique. And mainly he talks about the mental side of the game and what kind of mindset we should have in different situations – whether it’s in the match or off the pitch,” he said. It shows in the shift in Prabhsimran’s batting narrative today. “I used to go out in my 30s or 40s… now I try to play longer innings. And most importantly, as we discuss in team meetings as well, it doesn’t matter if we have to go for the orange cap or the purple cap… the aim is to create enough impact to win matches for your team,” he said. This philosophy aligns neatly with the modern IPL ecosystem, where the pace has quickened and the margins have shrunk. “The game is so fast now. Targets of 180 or 170 used to be defended. It still happens today. But if you look at what average scores are required, it has moved to 200 and above,” he said. “If you want to score 200 and more, I feel you have to come in and play with an attacking approach right from the powerplay. You also get a clear from the team, the coach and the captain to go all out and play freely. If you have to hit, you have to go for it. Cricket has definitely picked up speed so scoring 250 is not that difficult.” If batting developments reflect the demands of the league, his wicket has more of a nostalgic anchor. Like many of his generation, Prabhsimran grew up around MS Dhoni; not only a finisher, but also a gloveman. “I have watched Mahi bhai keep wickets. As everyone knows he has very quick hands. So I am not copying anyone in batting but in wicketkeeping I am trying to emulate Mahi bhai,” he said. Then there is the final, unspoken layer to it all. The Indian dream, no longer distant but yet unfulfilled. His recent stint in India A has heightened this sense of closeness. “When you get into the India A squad, you feel your main goal is to play for the senior India team, represent the country well and play for a long time. You feel like, ‘Yes, I’m in India A now and if I do well, maybe I’ll get a chance to play for the senior team soon.’ So that confidence stays with you knowing that the ultimate goal of playing for India’s senior team is not too far away,” said Prabhsimran.
