Yuvraj Singh's mentorship is once again in the spotlight as Sanju Samson was recently seen training with the former Indian all-rounder. A video circulating on social media shows Samson receiving batting tips from the 2011 World Cup hero, sparking excitement among fans and raising hopes for Samson's performance in the upcoming T20 World Cup. This comes after Yuvraj's successful guidance of other young cricketers like Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma.
Yuvraj Singh has built a reputation as a mentor who can guide young Indian cricketers. Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma have previously benefited from his inputs. Gill is now India's Test and ODI captain, while Sharma has become a first-choice opener in T20Is, known for his aggressive powerplay hitting. Both players have credited Yuvraj for their success. Yuvraj's mother revealed that Gill and Sharma are "petrified" of him because he closely monitors their performance.
Samson's interaction with Yuvraj is especially significant ahead of the T20 World Cup. After the 2024 T20 World Cup and the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Samson was given more opportunities as an opener in T20Is. He scored 559 runs in 18 matches with a strike rate of 178, including three centuries and a half-century. However, he was later moved to the middle order and then dropped from the playing XI after Gill claimed the opening slot and was named vice-captain. An injury to Gill allowed Samson to regain his place in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
With competition for the top spots remaining fierce, Samson is working to solidify his position. He can be seen taking tips from Yuvraj in a video that has gone viral. The session seemed focused and serious. Samson worked on his timing, footwork, and power-hitting, while Yuvraj observed his technique and offered feedback.
Yuvraj isn't a professional coach but youngsters in the Punjab set-up value his contribution. In 2020, Yuvraj invited Gill, Sharma, Anmolpreet Singh, and Prabhsimran Singh to a five-week training camp. Sharma said the camp changed their approach to the game. He added that Yuvraj taught them about the nuances of the top-level game. Yuvraj gave each player a training schedule every morning.
Yuvraj has also been mentoring Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. Yuvraj's experience in handling pressure situations, dominating spin, and pacing innings is relevant for Samson, especially in limited-overs cricket.
Yuvraj Singh's Centre of Excellence (YSCE) is designed to nurture young talent. YSCE has certified coaches and provides customized training modules. The academy focuses on developing the sporting ecosystem through high-quality cricket academies, technology solutions, and character building. YSCE offers an advanced training program for players aged under 14, 16, 19, and 22. The program includes coaching, fitness, rules of the game, umpiring, fitness training, physio interactions, diet management, match mindset, and video analysis.
