Dubai: Recuperating from what he describes as a shock that only a cancer patient can understand, Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh says he hopes to be back in action for the World Twenty20 Championships in September even though it would be a "big challenge" for him.
"Playing for India is going to be a huge challenge for me because the body has been under a lot of shock which nobody can understand except me," Yuvraj told `ICC Cricket 360` show.
"Only a cancer patient can understand what he is going through. So it`s going to be a big challenge for me to come back and play for India again," he added.
The all-rounder refused to commit to when he anticipates returning to the cricket field, stating that he is keen to avoid coming back prematurely.
"Well I can`t really give a time-frame but I have to see how my body is recovering and how fast I can come on the field. Actually I don`t want to rush and I don`t want to come back at 75 per cent fitness.
"I might take six months, I might take two months. So I don`t know. But the day I feel 100 per cent I surely will be back," he said.
Yuvraj, who is best remembered for his astonishing six sixes off one Stuart Broad over at the ICC World Twenty20 Championships in 2007, hinted that he may be available for selection for the next edition.
"I think (the) favourites are India because we`ve got the biggest hitters - biggest hitters in town that`s what I want to say. Hopefully I should be back by then.”
"I`m not saying I`m the reason, it`s just that I feel we have the strongest side and if we can sort out our bowling in T20s I`m sure we can be a strong unit. There are other strong teams like Australia, South Africa which always compete at the top level at world events," he said.
Yuvraj also spoke of his emotional battle against cancer.
"Initially it was hard to accept that a guy like me who is training six to seven hours a day, running around all the time as an athlete, can get diagnosed with something like this. It took a long time to sink in but eventually I made peace with it. I knew I have an issue and I have to sort it out," he said.
Yuvraj said the incredible support he received from Indian fans during his treatment made a huge difference to his recovery and spirit.
"The support was overwhelming, especially from India. One of the students from a college in Indianapolis came to see me and I felt like I was in India.”
"I just want to thank everybody for their support and for their care. I went through chemotherapy which is hard for everybody but the wishes and the love is what made me come back," said the dashing left-hander.
Yuvraj also justified sharing his emotional journey in coping with cancer in a very public manner via his personal Twitter account.
"There was a lot of speculation on what cancer I had, what had been going on, so I just want to keep everybody in the loop by saying this is what is happening and this is how my treatment is being done and I`m being positive.”
"I just want to spread the message to other people who are diagnosed with such a disease that they can also fight it with the support of their family and their loved ones."
Having already returned to light training, Yuvraj believes that his recovery is going well, and is enjoying a healthier lifestyle.
"I`m feeling good. It`s been two months since I finished my chemotherapy. Initially my energy levels were low but now I am following my diet and eating loads of food and it`s getting better in recovery.”
"I`ve done six or seven sessions of very light training and light yoga. I`m just getting back into the groove of being a normal person, breathe normally, which is a lot of excitement and fun for me at the moment."
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 14:39