Yuvraj Singh reveals he does not want to be a coach to his kids like his father Yograj Singh: 'I was pushed a lot'

Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has shared a more personal side of his life in a recent interview. Yuvraj opened up about the intense training he underwent under his father Yograj Singh’s watchful eye, and how those experiences have shaped his approach to parenting his own son, Orion.
Yuvraj, who made India proud with the 2011 World Cup victory, credited his father’s strict regimen for paving the way to his professional career. However, he also revealed that the pressure to live up to those expectations came at the cost of a warm father-son relationship during his childhood.

In an interview with Curly Tales, Yuvraj admitted that his father, Yograj, was harsh at times, but it was his dream to see his son live the life he had once envisioned for himself. “There were times when I didn't like it, but I think sometimes you have to do things you don’t like to understand what you want to achieve. I was pushed a lot, but that is why I started playing for India when I was just 18,” Yuvraj said.
Yuvraj, who is a father to two children, shared that he’s keen to create a more nurturing and friendly bond with his son, Orion. His intention is to break the pattern of stern parenting he experienced and instead build memories that go beyond the cricket pitch.

"With my father, it was always about cricket. I don't want to be a coach to my kids – I want to be a dad. The things I couldn’t do with my dad, I now do with my son," he added.
Yuvraj’s mother, Shabnam Singh, who joined him during the same interview, added her own insights into the cricketer’s childhood. She noted that despite the gruelling practice sessions enforced by Yograj, Yuvraj never voiced any complaints. In a lighter moment, Yuvraj teased that his mother seemed well-rehearsed in what to say for the interview.
She also reminisced about Yuvraj’s mischievous nature, recounting an incident when she received a prank call from someone posing as a police officer, claiming her son had misbehaved. "The first person he makes a fool out of is me, and every time, I get taken in," she said.
The strained relationship between Yuvraj and his father has been a subject of public interest, especially since his retirement in 2019. At the time, Yograj Singh told PTI that his tough-love approach was driven by a desire to prove a point through his son’s success. He expressed gratitude for having a son like Yuvraj and hoped for mutual understanding between them.
Yuvraj shared that he eventually found emotional resolution. Ahead of his retirement, the father and son finally had a long-overdue heart-to-heart conversation, allowing Yuvraj to gain clarity and closure.