With skipper Saurav Ganguly declaring him as the firstchoice opener for Test matches, Yuvraj Singh said he would prepare for the newrole with a changed mindset and use the opportunity to score big knocks.
"It's going to be a change in the batting order,and I have to go up the order. I am going to prepare for it, I will practicewith the new ball. It's a different challenge," he told reporters on thesidelines of the camp for Asia Cup probables in Bangalore.
"I think it's an advantage because if one seesthrough the new ball, one can also score big runs. So, I am looking forward tothe challenge," said the left hander who has played four Tests so far.
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Strongly backing him for the opener's role, Ganguly hadsaid Yuvraj was a class act, had the ability and mindset to open and shouldnot be kept out of the team.
Asked if he would be changing his batting style for hisnew role, Yuvraj said, "It's not going to be much of a change of style. It'sjust to see off the new ball and (then) play your shots. I think it's the changeof mindset (that's needed)."
Yuvraj also said he would try to follow in the footsteps of Virender Sehwag, whowas also promoted from the middle-order to the opener's spot.
"He (Sehwag) has set a very good example.He has done tremendously in the opener's slot. So, if I can do the same and beas successful as Sehwag, it would be good for the team," he said.
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Asked if he will return to the middle order if he didnot succeed in the new role, Yuvraj said "When you play cricket at the international level, you don't think about ifs and don'ts. Whatever thesituation, you have to go through it, and be positive about it."
Yuvrajpaid credit to senior players for the success of youngsters like him, Sehwag,Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan, and said they took away thepressure from them.
"They make us feel very good, and they don't putmuch of pressure on us. We gel together very nicely," he said.
Yuvraj said he was not sure which of the home series-- against Australia or South Africa -- would be tougher, as now his focus wasonly on the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month.
PTI
