When we think of Indian cricket, many names come to mind—Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and of course Yuvraj Singh. But behind Yuvraj’s success story stands the man who once represented India in international cricket—Yograj Singh. His cricketing career may not have lasted long, but his passion for the sport has kept him connected to the game throughout his life. Today, many cricket fans search for Yograj Singh stats or Yograj Singh cricket stats to learn more about his short journey with the Indian team.
Yograj Singh was a right-arm fast-medium bowler who played just 1 Test match and 6 ODIs for India between 1980 and 1981. While his international career was brief and not filled with remarkable records, he still left a small mark on Indian cricket history. Beyond cricket, he later went on to act in Punjabi and Hindi films and became known for his outspoken nature.
Early Life and Cricketing Aspirations
Yograj Singh was born in Punjab, where cricket is not just a sport but a passion. Since his childhood, he had a dream to play in the Indian jersey and bowl against the best in the World. His tall stature and natural speed came to the fore at a time when India could not find any genuine fast bowlers.
He carved his path through the domestic circuit, cricketing at the first-class level, and was noticed by the selectors owing to his capacity to generate speed. The India of the time depended on spin and fast bowlers were not common. Yograj Singh appeared to be the possible way to fill this gap.
Yograj Singh Cricket Stats: Batting and Bowling Career
Although he was primarily known as a bowler, Yograj Singh’s complete stats include both batting and bowling numbers. Below is a detailed table of his international cricket career:
Batting Career Summary
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Balls Faced | High Score | Average | Strike Rate | Not Outs | 4s | 6s | 50s | 100s | 200s |
| Test | 1 | 2 | 10 | 50 | 6 | 5.00 | 20.00 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 6 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0.50 | 8.34 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling Career Summary
| Format | Matches | Innings | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | Best Bowling (Innings) | Best Bowling (Match) | 5w | 10w |
| Test | 1 | 1 | 90 | 63 | 1 | 63.00 | 4.20 | 90.0 | 1/63 | 1/63 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 6 | 5 | 244 | 186 | 4 | 46.50 | 4.57 | 61.0 | 2/44 | 2/44 | 0 | 0 |
| T20I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.0 | -/- | -/- | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.0 | -/- | -/- | 0 | 0 |
International Career: A Brief Chapter
Yograj Singh made his ODI debut against New Zealand in December 1980 at The Gabba, Australia. He played six ODIs in total but managed only four wickets. His best ODI figures were 2/44, but overall, his bowling average of 46.50 showed he struggled to make an impact at the highest level.
The sole first-class game was at Wellington against New Zealand in February of 1981. In the first innings, he only bowled a fifth of the overs (15) and only took one wicket—Wright (63). Unluckily, India did not win that game and Yograj never got picked in the Test again.
Internationally he was not successful and was left out after his initial one-day game; however, he did play at the domestic level representing Haryana and Punjab in the first-class games. He took 66 wickets in 30 first-class matches, including 66 wickets at an average of 26.60 which was not too bad.
Injuries and the End of His Cricket Journey
Like many fast bowlers of his era, injuries cut short Yograj Singh’s cricketing ambitions. At a time when medical facilities and fitness regimes were not as advanced as today, recovering from injuries was far tougher. His pace bowling took a toll on his body, and he eventually faded away from the international scene.
This was a huge blow to him personally, as he had worked hard to make his place in the Indian team. However, he did not let the setback define his life. Instead, he turned his energy towards new ventures.
Life Beyond Cricket: Films and Coaching
After his cricket career ended, Yograj Singh turned towards the film industry. He became a popular face in Punjabi cinema and acted in many films. His tall physique, strong presence, and deep voice made him an ideal actor for powerful roles. Over time, he appeared in both Punjabi and Hindi movies, building a career in entertainment.
Meanwhile, Yograj was much more rooted in cricket. He established a cricket academy where he coached several youngsters, including his son Yuvraj Singh, who became one of the most successful match victors in India. In numerous interviews, Yuvraj has attributed his dad to him infusing him with a sense of order and a hard line.
Controversies and Outspoken Nature
Yograj Singh is not just known for cricket and films but also for his controversial statements. Over the years, he has often criticized Indian cricket officials and players. His most famous controversy came when he accused MS Dhoni of being responsible for Yuvraj Singh’s exclusion from the 2015 World Cup squad. He even went as far as saying Dhoni’s greatness was media-made.
He has also been in the news for legal troubles, including an alleged parking lot altercation in 2014. His fiery and emotional personality often makes headlines, sometimes overshadowing his cricketing achievements.
A Complex Personality
When we discuss Yograj Singh today, it is obvious that he is a multidimensional person. On one side he was a dad, who spurred on his son to excellency, an ardent ballplayer who never quit, and a film celebrity who established a name for himself. He is also seen as being extremely outspoken and controversial here and there, making very strong statements, which takes up the place of debate.
But there cannot be any rebuttal to the fact that he loves cricket. Clips from his academy indicate a man who still has a fire inside for the game. Even if everything else done by him in sports doesn’t make it to record books at all, his love for the game is irrepressible.
Conclusion
Looking at Yograj Singh stats, one might say his international career was insignificant. With just 1 Test wicket and 4 ODI wickets, his numbers are not extraordinary. But stats don’t always tell the full story. For Yograj, cricket was more than just numbers—it was his identity, his passion, and the driving force that shaped not only his life but also his son’s legendary career. Yograj Singh is perhaps never remembered as a great cricketer but his name is always associated with the cricketing history of India. His linkages of the cricket field to the film set and of coaching kids and becoming the father of a global cricketer make him an interesting subject.
Cricket figures about Yograj Singh cannot give us the full picture of the life of a cricketer, yet his overall biography shows how strong he is, how much he has changed, and how fond he was of his sport.
Read Our More Blogs:- AUS W vs NZ W: Complete T20I Series Recap
