Chandigarh, April 04: Shabnam Singh rarely goes to cricket stadiums to watch her son Yuvraj Singh play. The mother of the Man of the World Cup 2011 instead prefers meditating in quite rooms when her immensely talented son comes up with matchwinning performances with both the bat and the ball. ET caught up with Shabnam Singh at her home in Chandigarh on Sunday morning while she was getting ready to leave for Sirhind in Punjab to thank the ‘Guru Ji’ who has guided her and her son. Excerpts from an interview:
Your son is the man of the moment. Cliched it may sound, but how are you feeling? What were your initial reactions?
I was in a state of shock. I couldn’t realise what was happening. But I was always confident that India is going to make it this time.
People say you have been meditating and praying for Yuvraj success for last few months. Your comments?
Not for a few months; for the last 15 years, I have prayed consistently for his success. We both follow the Guru Ji in Punjab. I am also a medium between the Guru Ji and Yuvraj. Whatever instructions Guru Ji gives me, I have to pass it on to my son. Even during the India-Pakistan semi-finals, Guru Ji had advised him to stay calm. “Don’t be in a hurry,” Guru Ji had instructed Yuvraj beforehand.
You didn’t go to the stadium to watch the Mohali semi-finals. What were you doing at that time?
It (watching the high-voltage India-Pakistan match) is too much of stress for me to handle. I was meditating all the time (during the match).
Besides you, who are the other people in Yuvraj’s life who can influence him? How about his father Yograj Singh?
You should ask Mr Yograj Singh.
Yuvraj has gone through a lean phase. What made him come back with such a roaring fashion? Did you guide him?
Yuvraj has always been confident. Though for sometime injuries did keep him out the game, he never lost his focus. He doesn’t need guidance all the time. He is not a child. He knows what to do.
Do you think it’s time Yuvraj should get married?
Yes, we are looking for the right girl for him. You don’t have to marry, when you want to get married . Rather only when you come across a right match.
When will you meet Yuvraj next?
Boys are very tired at the moment. I will speak to him by evening.
What is his favourite food? What are you going to prepare for him?
He loves curry-chawal made by his grand mother.
——–Agencies