Yuvraj Singh is one of the greatest all-rounders Indian cricket has produced. That the Indian team has struggled to find a permanent replacement for him at no. 4 position in the batting order even after all these years—he retired from ODIs in 2017—speaks volumes about his talent. Not to forget how he inspired India to the ODI World Cup victory in 2011, winning the player-of-the-tournament award in the process, while struggling with cancer.
It's only fitting that a film is made on the eventful and amazing journey of the star cricketer, and Bhushan Kumar's T-Series has taken it upon themselves to produce the biopic.
The yet-to-be-titled film will be co-produced by Ravi Bhagchandka, of Sachin: A Billion Dreams and (upcoming Aamir Khan's film) Sitaare Zameen Par fame.
A press release said the film will be a "grand celebration of Singh's unparalleled journey and contributions to cricket, capturing the essence of his career, unforgettable six sixes in the 2007 T20 World Cup, his courageous off-field battles and his subsequent return to cricket in 2012".
Yuvraj Singh said he was “deeply honoured” that people across the globe will get to see his story. “Cricket has been my greatest love and source of strength through all the highs and lows. I hope this film inspires others to overcome their own challenges and pursue their dreams with unwavering passion.”
Yuvraj Singh played 40 Tests, scoring 1,900 runs and taking nine wickets. But, he was a different beast in white-ball cricket, especially ODIs. In 304 one-day internationals, he accumulated 8,701 runs at an average of 36.55, and took 111 wickets.
The details of the film, including the director and the cast, are yet to be announced. However, it will be a good time to check out these biopics on Indian cricketers:
1
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
It was based on the life of former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and was released in 2016 while he was still an active player. Late Sushant Singh Rajput reprised the role of the World Cup-winning Indian skipper, and the Neeraj Pandey film proved to be a blockbuster.
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story review—Midas touch all the way
2
Azhar
The same year saw the release of another biopic of another former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin, with Emraan Hashmi portraying the lead role. The film, directed by Tony D'Souza and Anthony D'Souza, also threw light on the match-fixing scandal that rocked Indian cricket in 2000. Azhar got mixed reviews from critics and audience alike.
3
Shabaash Mithu
The film traced the journey of one of India's greatest woman cricketers—Mithali Raj. The 2022 flick was directed by Srijit Mukherjee, and had Taapsee Pannu reprising the role of Raj. The film failed to make much of an impact, despite a fine performance from Pannu.
Shabaash Mithu review: A flawed but partly inspiring biopic
4
Kaun Pravin Tambe?
Talk of late bloomers! Leg-spinner Pravin Tambe made his IPL debut at 41—at an age when most players would have retired. He played tennis-ball and club cricket for almost decades before being picked up by Rajasthan Royals. He went on to play first-class cricket for Mumbai. Jayprad Desai directed the charming 2022 film, which showcased Tambe's incredible journey. Shreyas Talpade portrayed the leggie on screen.
A couple of other must-watch flicks are the documetary, Sachin: A Billion Dreams (2017), and the film, 83 (2021), which is based on India's famous 1983 World Cup win.