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Yuvraj Singh may have retired from cricket six years ago, but his influence on Indian cricket continues to shape the next generation of stars. From Shubman Gill to Abhishek Sharma, Yuvraj has mentored young talents, guiding them towards success. One such promising cricketer is Ramandeep Singh, a Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder, who recently opened up about his special bond with Yuvraj Singh and the priceless mentorship he has received.
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‘Yuvi Paaji Has a Huge Heart’ – Ramandeep Singh on Yuvraj’s Mentorship
Ramandeep Singh, a rising star in Punjab and IPL cricket, shared an inspiring story about how Yuvraj went out of his way to help him improve his game. In a conversation on a podcast with Ram Shamani, Ramandeep recalled how the two-time World Cup winner skipped his own practice session to focus entirely on his batting.
“I keep having conversations with Yuvi paaji. He’s from Punjab, and I am lucky that he has seen me bat. When the Covid restrictions were initially lifted, we used to practice at the PCA Stadium. Yuvi paaji used to come there too. One day, he missed his own practice session for me and arranged a center wicket for practice. He stood in the sun the entire afternoon at the umpire’s position and recorded my batting videos,” Ramandeep said.
“He then took my number, shared those videos with me, and gave me advice—what I needed to improve, what I was doing well, and what I wasn’t. That guy has a huge heart. He is a bigger character than he was as a cricketer. He goes out of the way; that’s his nature,” he added.
According to Ramandeep, Yuvraj’s mentorship isn’t limited to just him. Many young cricketers—including Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Anmolpreet Singh, and Prabhsimran Singh—turn to Yuvraj for batting advice.
“When it comes to batting, they all take their problems to Yuvraj Singh. It has never happened that he hasn’t answered their phone. And a person like him, who is busy throughout the year, still manages to take time out,” he added.
Ramandeep Wants to Follow in Yuvraj’s Footsteps
Ramandeep, currently playing for KKR in IPL 2025, remained unbeaten on 6 runs as his team lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL opener. However, beyond the numbers, his cricketing ambitions align with Yuvraj’s aggressive style.
Much like his idol, Ramandeep has come close twice to achieving Yuvraj’s famous milestone of hitting six sixes in an over. He smashed five sixes in an over twice during the Sher-e-Punjab tournament but fell just short of the final blow.
“I really want to smash six sixes in an over. Not because I have to break Yuvraj’s record or anything like that. What he has done is remarkable. But I don’t know what happens on the sixth ball. I am missing something. He [Yuvraj] knows that it’s written. It will happen if and when it has to,” Ramandeep said.
For Ramandeep, cricket is more about the feeling than just numbers.
“You may score runs, but you don’t always get that special feeling. On the other hand, you may score just 35 runs, but if everything is timed well and hits the middle of the bat, there’s no better feeling,” he concluded.
With Yuvraj’s guidance and experience, Ramandeep Singh is on the path to becoming one of the IPL’s next big finishers. It’s only a matter of time before he truly lives up to the legacy of his mentor.
