Yuvraj can resume training in ten weeks, says his doctor

Yuvraj Singh's oncologist Dr. Nitesh Rohatagi has said that India's ace cricketer can resume training in ten weeks.  The star of India's spectacular World Cup win last year has been diagnosed with a rare type of seminoma or germ cell tumour. His doctor said he was fighting his illness strongly. Yuvraj has been in USA since last month.

Dr Rohatagi has particularly said that, "Association with the word cancer is negative. His condition is completely curable. He has got a rare type of seminoma," he said, adding that the flamboyant batsman would undergo therapy for nine weeks and could be back on the field in the first week of May. (WATCH)

Yuvraj, said the doctor,  was very tough mentally  and was doing better than most in the same situation. "He is presently not as fit as he was this time last year. He however is doing much better than others who have this condition," he said adding that doctors in the USA are working closely with a medical team in India. "At present he is reading books including the autobiography of Lance Armstrong. He is playing video games and is going for walks," the doctor said.

Yuvraj's tumour was first detected in October last year; doctors said then that it was benign. It was later found to be malignant. The 30-year-old is being treated has been in the US since last month and has undergone chemotherapy at the Cancer Research Institute in Boston. He is being treated by the same doctor who treated legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer in 1996. The cyclist recovered to go on to win the sport's most prestigious race, the Tour de France, an unprecedented seven times.

Yuvraj's ailment was diagnosed at the first stage. "He is responding well to treatment. In fact the doctor keeps asking him if he belongs to a very strong bloodline," Yuvraj's father, former cricketer Yograj Singh, said on Monday afternoon.  "The doctor has told Yuvraj 'I will send you from here as a new champion and you will be stronger than before, a thing like this cancer won't exist for you anymore that is my promise'," Yograj Singh added.

Yuvraj's family has thanked the Indian Cricket Board for insisting that Yuvraj undergo further check-ups in the US. The board, said Yuvraj's father, had been like a father to his son.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has in a statement wished Yuvraj a speedy recovery and asked the media to "respect the privacy of his family". Sports Minister Ajay Maken tweeted on Sunday night, "Wish Yuvraj a speedy recovery! Asking officials to find the quantum and nature of help required. Government shld & will help him (sic)". There are many more tweets.

Teammates like Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth exressed their support. Yuvraj is a favourite in Bollywood and wishes poured in from those quarters too.

Schoolchildren and cricket fans have joined the celebs in wishing the batsman a speedy recovery.  In Faridkot, Punjab, School students held a special prayer in a Gurudwara to wish their hero well. Several social organisations also held prayers. 

And from Dave Callaghan, the former South Africa all-rounder, who overcame testicular cancer to play international cricket in the 1990s and early 2000, came some advice: Set yourself a goal, he has said to Yuvraj. While Port Elizabeth-based Callaghan conceded that survival would be uppermost on Yuvraj's mind, the 47-year-old South African said that the batsman must soon set a time frame for his return to cricket. "Yuvraj will do well to tell himself, 'by the end of my treatment, I would like to play...     for example...   next year's IPL (Indian Premier League).' A target to work towards is important," said Callaghan. "I told myself (in 1991) that at the end of my treatment which was four to six months, I would like to play one first-class match again," he said.

Yuvraj has played 37 Tests, scoring 1775 runs at an average of 34.80.

He has 8051 runs at an average of 37.62 from his 274-match ODI career, the highlight of which was his stellar role in India's World Cup triumph last year.