It was an unusual selection though for Yuvraj hasnt played a game since chemotherapy ate at his strength but, by all accounts, left his resolve untouched. Ordinarily you would have thought that he needed a couple of games to show if the strength had returned and if he was hitting a ball well enough to keep another player out. It was clearly an emotional selection but also one of solidarity with someone who had played outstandingly for India. I dont think either Australia or, in the present dispensation England, would have picked him as quickly but we are an emotional people and you will hardly find anyone contesting his selection.

But if Yuvraj is indeed fit, and on his way to being the player he was, he changes the balance of the Indian team completely. He did that at the World Cup when he became the all-rounder that India were searching for. By doing that he gave India an extra slow bowling option and allowed a batsman to play at number seven. In T20 cricket he only needs to bowl four overs, or even three or two.

Ill also be watching to see how Dhoni handles him. Will he straightaway slot him in at No.4which is where he belonged in T20? Will he slot him in as the fifth bowler straightaway? Or will he let him ease his way in? Knowing Dhoni, I wont be surprised if Yuvraj bowls the first over!

That said I will be very interested in seeing how he approaches playing for India again. He could get caught up in the moment, play the dramatic hero back from the brink, try too hard to make a statement, indeed try too hard to prove that he is back to being the player he was. Its a tough one but I hope he doesnt because then his head could be full of a million thoughts swirling uncontrollably, the mind jumping from one objective to the other and fatally letting the present disappear. Nobody will let him forget the enormity of the moment but peculiarly, he will need to if he has to make the best of it.

I remember talking to Nasser Hussain a couple of years ago about handling pressure and he spoke of how the very best realise they need to do something special and yet are able to treat the moment like any other. Im sure surgeons have to do that as they approach life-saving surgery, engulfed by an overwhelming need to be perfect and yet not letting the pressure come in the way of achieving perfection; of knowing it is important and yet pretending it isnt. Lawyers probably need to feel that way on big days and I know television anchors need to.

Alternately Yuvraj can be the kid on the park just enjoying chasing a ball and hitting it and looking at every moment as another chance. He can play with freedom, look pressure in the eye and say to it Go some other place. I am only playing cricket! Keith Miller said famously after the war that pressure was a Messerschmidt up your backside, that playing cricket was just a celebration.

I hope Yuvraj looks at the rest of his playing career as a celebration, as a lifeline thrown his way. I dont know if he will ever be as good as he was, if he can get your heart racing by the majesty of his strokeplay. But if he can play like he belongs, thats all, he will tell the world a great story.