I'd love to play Test cricket again: Yuvraj Singh

When will we see you return to the IPL?

Hopefully May 6.

All charged up?

I am. It's been more than a month that I haven't played and I'm really looking forward to start practicing as soon as we get to Hyderabad and will get two weeks to get ready for my game.

Was it frustrating to bow out before World T20 semifinals (due to injury) when things were going well with the bat for you?

It was frustrating as I had prepared myself for the World T20. Since Australia, I have been contributing well with the bat and ball. World T20 semifinal was a big occassion. Unfortunately the team lost as well and I felt even worse.

How much of a help were the captain and Team Director in your comeback?

Ravi (Shastri) helped me mentally a lot. He told me 'you just go out there and express yourself and I back you and you are going to play every game in the World Cup'. That's what I needed. I needed somebody to back me and just go out there express myself.

You will be playing under David Warner for SRH. Are you looking forward to that?

Definitely. David Warner is one of the best batsmen in the world along with Virat (Kohli) and AB de Villiers. He is doing really well with the bat and is an exceptional hitter of the ball. Looking forward to working with him and hopefully he'll get the best out of the players.

The kind of cricket that Kohli has been playing of late, he could be the best in limited-overs cricket. What do you think of him?

He has been playing really well for a very long time. He has been consistent. Everytime he comes back into form, his performances get better. You don't see that with a lot of players. They come and perform but Virat wins you a lot of games. He has won us a lot of games in the World T20. Unfortunately, we could not win it. But it shows how everytime he comes back into form, the benchmark goes higher.

Virat and you have had some good partnerships that helped India win. Can you tell us about your friendship on and off the field?

We have a lot of understanding. I have seen him grow up in front of me. I have always tried to help him with tips that a young guy needs. I always felt these guys – he (Virat) and Rohit (Sharma) had the most potential. He is living up to the potential. He has gone a little ahead of his potential as well. It's only because he trains the hardest and works the hardest. His attitude is always positive and his self belief is much more than many others. So, that is the reason why he excels.

Kohli is a good chaser, too, like how you used to do...

I think it's the opportunity to perform, it's the opportunity you look forward to. When there is pressure, it's an opportunity to do well, telling yourself 'if I excel in this situation, it gives me more self belief to get better and better'. I think it's his self belief that when he is there in the middle, he is going to finish the game.

Do you see yourself playing another World Cup?

Definitely. It depends on how well the IPL goes. If I do well in the IPL, I might get an opportunity. So, lets see what happens. Right now, it's tough to get a spot in the ODIs because the middle order has Ajinkya Rahane and Manish Pandey. They are playing really well. If I get an opportunity, it will be great. I always try and give my best, whatever cricket I get to play.

You have made a mark in ODIs and T20s. In Ranji Trophy, a longer format, too, you have scored some big runs. Do you sometimes sit down and think if your Tests could have gone as well?

If for seven years you have been the 12th man of a team, and greats like Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly, Sehwag in the side, it's very difficult to get an opportunity. That time, one would get one or two opportunities. Right now, there are opportunities after opportunities. Guys are getting opportunites to play 10 Test matches. If they do well, they still play. Even if they don't (do well), they still play. So, it's good that is happening because that gives them security. They feel secured that even if they don't do well, they will get a chance. In my time, there was so much compeition and it was very hard to get opportunities. Whatever the circumstances, I think I did decently well. There were times where I scored a lot of 60s and 70s but I could not covert them. So, I think that's where I lacked. Instead of three hundreds, if I had six to seven hundreds, I'd have been happier. But, batting at six, it is not easy to score centuries.

Do you still fancy your chances of a Test comeback?

There is definitely an opportunity. India are playing 13-14 Tests at home in the coming season. I have scored six-seven hundreds in the last two seasons in Ranji Trophy. I have been playing well against spin. If I get opportunity, I'd love to play Test cricket again. Selection is not in my hands. Whatever cricket – ODIs, Tests or T20s – I get to play, I will try and do my best.

Is there any kind of pressure when are making a comeback? And, you have made quite a few comebacks...

No. I have gone through all of that. I am very happy that my health is good. I am very happy that I am playing again. I feel lucky that I have an opportunity to play again. A lot of people don't get that chance when they go through cancer. I present myself as an inspiration to a lot of them. I am very happy that I am helping people getting back to their feet.

Biopics of three cricketers are on the offing – Sachin, Dhoni and Azhar. Will we see a movie on Yuvraj Singh soon?

Yeah, one day. The book (The Test of My Life) has only 40 per cent of my story. Hopefully one day, if I feel the time is right, I will share my story with everyone.

Who can play Yuvraj Singh? Will you play yourself on screen?

If Yuvraj Singh plays Yuvraj Singh, thoda desperate ho jayega (it will look desperate). I think I am sure there's some young guy. We'll see when the time comes.