Anyone who follows cricketers. Yuvraj Singh He knows that his childhood was far from normal. With his parents Yograj Singh and Shabnam Singh separated early and an extremely strict father who, in his own words, “didn’t allow me to play anything but cricket”, Yuvraj grew up under immense pressure. While the discipline made him an exceptional cricketer, it also instilled in him a deep desire to become the son of a father he never had, one who could give his children the experiences he longed for as a child. In a recent conversation with Sania Mirza on Serving It Up With Sania, Yuvraj opened up about the struggles his family faced, especially the hardships his mother endured in the early days.
‘My mother suffered a lot’
“I saw my mom suffer a lot. I won’t go into details about why and what happened, but she lived with her parents. The day I received my first check, it was an incredible feeling to finally be able to take care of the woman who had protected me all these years, give her something in return and a space that she could finally call her own,” he shared.
‘Things I wish I had done with my parents’
Talking about fatherhood, the former Indian all-rounder credited his wife, actress Hazel Keech, for helping him build a strong bond with his children. “My relationship with my children is great and I give Hazel all the credit for that. When they were born, I was hesitant to change their diapers or give them milk. But she encouraged me, saying that doing these things would strengthen my bond with the children,” she said.
Yuvraj admitted that sharing responsibilities changed everything, adding, “She was right. Now, even if I don’t see my kids for a month, we talk every day. They miss me and I miss them.”
Reflecting on her own upbringing, she said: “There are times when you feel like your parents weren’t there at certain times. Sometimes I think about things I wish I had done with my parents, like going to theme parks or picnics. They didn’t know it then, but we do.”
‘Hazel was by my side during my difficult times’
Yuvraj also spoke fondly of Hazel Keech, the woman he pursued for a long time before they finally fell in love.
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When asked if it was true that Hazel initially had no idea about her stardom, he joked: “Hazel still doesn’t have much of a clue who I am.” He added with a laugh: “She knew my name, but she wasn’t impressed. She was more like, ‘So what? You hit six sixes?’ But I was a handful.”
Explaining why he was attracted to her, Yuvraj said, “I like meeting someone who doesn’t know who I am or what I do, just meeting one on one. If someone is already hypnotized by her career, they don’t know what’s real. I think that’s why Hazel didn’t want to meet me initially. She thought I was after her. When I finally met her, I told her that I wanted a future and that this wasn’t a coincidence.”
Grateful for her support during his most difficult phase, he added: “She was by my side during my difficult times, and that is one of the main reasons we are together. I deeply respect that.”
‘Hazel has a manly laugh’
When asked what Hazel’s funniest trait was, Yuvraj smiled and said, “Her laugh.” Explaining further, he joked: “She has a manly laugh. That’s what makes her really funny.”
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When Sania jokingly warned him about the possible consequences, Yuvraj quipped, “The best part is that this statement actually makes her laugh.”
Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech got married in 2016 and are parents to two children.