Yuvraj Singh, the cricketing star known for his incredible achievements, recently shared some heartfelt thoughts about his hopes for his son, Orion. He expressed that he doesn’t wish for Orion to follow in his footsteps as a cricketer. The reason behind this is quite simple; Yuvraj believes that kids today face a lot of pressure because they’re constantly compared to their parents’ achievements, and that just doesn’t seem fair to him.
Yuvraj himself is a cricketing legend, having played for over 17 years at the top level. He’s not just known for his flashy strokes and big hits, but also for being a key part of the Indian team that lifted the ODI World Cup, the T20 World Cup, and the Champions Trophy. Not to mention, his success in the Indian Premier League with teams like the Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad is well-remembered.
During a chat on the Curly Tales YouTube channel, Yuvraj opened up more about his feelings. He mentioned that Orion has really gotten into cricket since he has seen his dad playing. It’s sweet to hear that the little one asks Yuvraj to play cricket with him, but Yuvraj’s instinct is to tell him he doesn’t want him to pursue it. “Every time I see him, he says, ‘Dad, I want to play cricket with you,’ and inside, I’m thinking, ‘No, I don’t want you to play cricket,’ he said. This goes to show how much he cares about his son’s well-being.
He went on to explain that while he doesn’t plan to discourage Orion outright, he’s genuinely concerned about the intense pressure young athletes face today. “There’s just too much pressure as a kid. It feels like every child is measured against their father’s history, and that feels really unfair to me. Not everyone can have the same talent,” Yuvraj expressed. He believes that every child has their own unique skills, and it’s important for them to find their own path. “If he wants to play, I’ll support him, but I really hope he finds something he loves that isn’t all about the pressure,” he said.
Looking back at his own career, Yuvraj made his international debut way back on October 3, 2000, against Kenya in Nairobi. Even though he didn’t get to bat in that game, he bowled four overs and conceded only 16 runs. Over his storied career, he played 40 Test matches, 304 One Day Internationals, and 58 T20s for India, accumulating over 11,000 runs and taking 148 wickets along the way. It’s a remarkable resume, but as a father, Yuvraj seems to value the happiness and mental health of his son above all else.
