For the first time ever, Yuvraj Singh tells the real story behind the 2011 World Cup when his on-the-field triumphs hid his increasingly puzzling health problems and worrying illnesses. In his debut book, The Test of My Life , he reveals how-plagued with insomnia, coughing fits that left him vomiting blood and an inability to eat-he made a deal with God. On the night before the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final, Yuvraj prayed for the World Cup in return for anything God wanted. In this book, he lays bare his fears, doubts and the lows he experienced during chemotherapy-when he lost his energy, his appetite and his hair-and his battle to find the will to survive. Poignant, personal, and moving, The Test of My Life is about cancer and cricket; but more importantly, it is about the human will to fight in the face of adversity and triumph despite all odds.
Only the brave son of India can do this what you have done for the country. Despite knowing the fact you are suffering from cancer in the world cup you played so well and became the player of the tournament. It's your contribution that we became world champion on cricket in 2011. You are a hero there is no doubt about this. You have inspired a generation who is playing cricket today. The whole cricket fraternity feels sad for you that you never recovered to you best from after defeating cancer. We missed your style of playing. You are the man behind the triumph of 2007 and 2011 world cups. The test of my life reveals some interesting fact about a legendary left-handed batsman Yuvraj Singh. His struggles, his sixes and his personal life. He defeated the undefeatable and returned to cricket pitch that was fabulous.
There'll be three kinds of readers of this book. Cricket fans, cancer survivors/patients, and those who love reading memoirs. It's a sincere book - honest and heartfelt, and while the editing may be sloppy and lenient, it didn't bother too much because it felt like it was Yuvi indeed who was talking. And one would expect a cricketer to narrate his story in simple words, without trying to impress me with wordplay. The book did strike an emotional cord with me. Yuvi, after all, is a cricketer of my generation (as is Sachin, Sourav, Rahul...) and if, like me, you've enjoyed and cheered for him every time his match-winning knocks steered India to victory, then you'll like hearing this story. The repetitive detailing of his chemo sessions got a bit boring at times, but I can imagine several readers (who've seen or been with people experiencing chemotherapy) nodding their heads as they flip through those pages. The Test of My Life is meant to inspire, help us battle all the odds, and that's something it does handsomely. Most importantly, it helps us get a peek into the mind of a cricketer in his own words, without any adulteration from the press. http://www.uread.com/book/test-my-lif...
3.5/5 "During such moments all you can hope for is that ‘this too shall pass’. You promise yourself that when you are on the other side you will make it up to everyone. But when you come to the other side you realize no one expects anything in return. What you did for everyone who loved you was do the chemo." Yuvraj Singh was without doubt one of India's best ODI batsmen. On his days, which were many, he was an absolute joy especially against pace and bounce. Add his useful bowling which India sorely misses today from its batting line-up and his magnificent fielding. For me his best innings remains his 70 off 30 balls against Australia in World Cup T20 semi-final. India were 41/1 in 8.3 overs when he came in to bat and he changed the game around totally. The "Test" here refers to playing under discomfort and pain to become the Man of the World (Cup) in 2011 and then beating cancer and coming back to international cricket. In this book, he has described his battle with cancer - ignoring, denying and then finally fighting and staging a comeback to cricket. The only problem with the book is that it is short, else it was a good read. I am giving a generous rating in the hope that Indian sports writing keeps getting better.
Such a simple book without any word plays, I just read in a day time. Media's Yuvi is very very different from real life. It's all C's in his life, cricket, cancer, cup and chemo, it ll move you to tears when he describe his agonies during 2011 World Cup and US treatment days! You get your happy tears later when he describe his emotions for chennai crowd cheers in his come back match after chemo. His life taught me just one thing, life will surprise you will all strange things and all we need is the will power to smash it out of boundary. If Yuvi can then we can too!!!
“The test of my life is a story in my own words. It is about my toughest days and how I managed to come out of it. It is about hope, determination and courage to face challenges despite all odds. And believe me, we all have the strength to do it. So keep it up and keep your dreams alive and never give up. God Bless.” – Yuvraj Singh. The Test Of My Life From Cricket To Cancer And Back is the heart-warming and inspirational tale of cricketer Yuvraj Singh s battle with the dreaded disease and how he was able to overcome this traumatic phase in his life. Summary Of The Book The Test Of My Life From Cricket To Cancer And Back is a book that provides its readers with insights into the most traumatic period in the life of cricketer Yuvraj Singh, as he struggled to come to terms with the fact that he was afflicted with cancer. The victory of the 2011 ICC World Cup receded far into the background in the light of this new development in Yuvraj s life. The cricketer, who had recently been in the spotlight for his phenomenal performance in the World Cup, had to now see the world crumbling before him as he dealt with chemotherapy and its numerous adverse effects. What started off as frequent bouts of illness and insomnia, along with a persistent cough that caused him to vomit blood, had eventually been diagnosed as cancer. The author talks about the chemotherapy treatment, and how he lost his hair and appetite. The Test Of My Life From Cricket To Cancer And Back is a heart-rending story that never fails to grip the attention of its readers. Filled with varied emotions, doubts, and fears, the book is a captivating story of how a human being can fight to survive, even in the toughest of circumstances. Yuvraj Singh also speaks about Youwecan, which is an NGO that helps patients with cancer.
The Test of My Life is an autobiography of Yuvraj Singh in which he describes the ups and downs of his career. “The story of his toughest days and how he managed to come out of it.” It’s the story of not just his triumphs but one of the most biggest setbacks and his comeback from life threatening cancer that could have ended his career.
Yuvraj Singh is the poster boy of Indian Cricket, the guy who hit six sixes in an over. The ever smiling Yuvraj or “Pie-Chucker”, the bad boy of Indian Cricket and perhaps the second most loved player in Indian Cricket. He won India in the World Cup and was the Player of the Tournament in World Cup, 2011.
Being a Cricket Maniac, The Test of My Life an autobiography by Yuvraj Singh was highly awaited. I got the book the very next day it was launched. It is the only book I have read in one go and it was a joy to read the book. The book gives an account of Yuvraj’s troublesome childhood and I was amazed to know that YUVI didn’t want to be a cricketer but was forced in to the sport by his dad Yograj Singh, another former International Cricketer but who couldn’t achieve much success. But he wanted to fulfill his dreams through his son.
The Test of My Life is a book of two stories. One of Yuvraj’s growing up and becoming one of the most successful cricketers of Indian cricket becoming role model of millions of fans at home and other of Yuvraj fighting Cancer in Indianapolis, US miles away from home in all the loneliness. In the first story Yuvraj describes his growth as a cricketer and how he matured as a cricketer but in the second part it’s about how he changed and matured as a person, his growth as an individual.
Yuvraj writes about his Ranji Trophy campaingn, his dream debut against Australia in 2001, his ODI career and unsuccessful test career. India’s World Cup campaign has been wonderfully described. On the eve of match against England, Yuvraj wasn’t feeling fit enough to play the game but Zaheer Khan(Zak) convinced him to play the game and told him You will win us the World Cup. Sachin also told Yuvraj that “You will matter when it matters the most”. It was blown away how Yuvraj Singh played the World Cup and won it for us with Cancer brewing his body. He was constantly coughing and couldn’t eat anything during the World Cup. Hats Off to the spirit of Yuvraj Singh.
The fascinating story of a cricketer is in the backdrop of a cricketer fighting a battle against Cancer with helplessness. It’s the battle against Cancer I wanted to read more and I got emotional reading what Yuvi had to battle everyday during the Chemotherapy. He couldn’t walk, couldn’t eat, was depressed and that’s what Chemo does to you. Yuvraj was on top of the world when he was told by Dr. Einhorn that the cncer was dead, he could be back again to leading a normal life.
In the last chapter Yuvraj talks about his emotional return to Cricket. I still remember I was desperately waiting for India vs New Zealand in Vishakhapatnam as it was the match Yuvraj would make his come back but the game got washed out. But two days later Yuvraj made his come back in Chennai. When Yuvraj walked out to bat I had got emotional and when he hit Daniel Vettori for a six, I had tears in my eyes. But the return was not so easy, it took months of beastly training at NCA, Banglore.
The book is a joy to read. The ups and downs are so well described that anybody can easily relate. The book has been co-authored by Sharda Ugra and Nishant Jeet Arora. It’s not a book about the scoreboards it’s about how life can turn full circle and should never be taken for granted. This book is dedicated by Yuvraj to his Mom Shabnam Singh, who was with him through thick and thin and in the worst moment of his lives.
Yuvraj Singh is back with a bang but as Kapil Dev siad “This too Shall Pass”.
When I started reading it, I thought it will have a lot of cricket and a lot of cancer survival stuff and it might not be that interesting. But the innocence with which the book is written is lovely. The inspirational stuff is not overloaded with heavy phrases or anything. It is simply a story of survival. It is a must read for any cricket lover or Yuvraj fan. But for all others, this book might feel full of time jumps, repetitions and grammatical errors. A good editing might have made it a wonderful book.
No doubt "if you can we can" by Yuvraj Singh. An inspirational story has been written by this Punjabi guy who has scribbled his journey from Kid to a cancer patient survivor and again back to his passion i.e. Cricket. In his debut book, Yuvraj is able to knock our mind and make us to think " If we are passionate, can't we face the challenges, which are thrown to our way." A perfect story and must read story. Hats of this guy who didn't give up till end and made his way to his game. Full marks.
This book is about the Cricket & Cancer as it happened with the cricketer Yuvraj Singh @YUVSTRONG12 & human spirit!! Being in a Pharmaceutical background with Pharmacology as a subject, I have this professional, medical knowledge about the disease & treatments but more so, on a personal note, I picked up this book to read because of some personal experience, a close brush with this "C" word in my immediate family in recent past. So, I wanted to know about Yuvi's overcoming of the same & his 'take' before & after bouncing back to the life & field & this book did not disappoint. As expected, there's a lots of details about cricket & tournaments & jargon (😄 I am not as much knowledge about the game or a passionate afficinado of cricket like my Dad), but I loved to read this book. I loved some funny details too shared by him in the book, like Virat Kohli is called "Cheeku" after some character in 'Champak', Gautaum Gambhir was 'Gauti' & others As Mama, Gajini & all among his team mates; Also that they referred to their kitbags as "coffins"!! But most of all, I loved Yuvi's hope among despair & his infectious die-hard spirit & genuine attempt at 'glam' smile😊 even during his ongoing chemo treatments, as evident from his pics as posted inside this book. Rare is such souls who can keep his spirit up even in troubled times & inspire others at the same time👍kudos to Mr. Yuvraj Singh!! Yes, with #YOUWECAN. Lastly, I got the copy in our college library, as a director to motivate our young student cricket team who comes out as the winning team almost every time in finals of campus cricket tournament events!!👍04 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
I picked up this book to kick start my habit of reading non fiction for this year. And what better choice than Yuvi's tryst with cancer. I was assuming the book would be about cancer in entirety - but it spanned from his childhood right to the diagnosis, treatment and come back. Two things stayed with me - a) Greatness does not come with comforts, but with great discipline and pain b) When you did not question God for the good things 'Why me?', why should we question the same in dark times? The narration is personal in tone, and i finished the book one shot. Nnot being a cricket fan, finishing it in one go was possible only because of the content. The denial towards cancer is real, and yuvi does not hide it from his readers. Being a big and famous cricketer in India - it's not easy to be so forthcoming about one's life. Fan for life.
This book is truly inspiring. The story of a man who faced so many ups and downs in life, but everytime, even in the toughest situations in the road of life, when he'd fall, he won't give up but, as he puts it, 'He'd pick himself up, dust himself off and keep running.'
"The Test of My Life" by Yuvraj Singh is an incredibly inspiring and moving book that I truly enjoyed reading. It offers a powerful story of courage, hope, and resilience—showing how Yuvraj overcame not just challenges on the cricket field but also his battle with cancer. The narrative is honest and heartfelt, giving readers a glimpse into his life, personal struggles, and the determination that brought him back to the game and to life itself.This book is more than a sports autobiography; it’s a genuine story about the will to fight adversity and the strength to keep going, no matter how tough life gets. Yuvraj’s journey will leave anyone motivated and grateful, and it’s a great reminder to never lose hope even in the darkest of times.
Hadn't i been a hard core yuvraj and indian cricket fan i would not have given 5*.from a literary perspective there was something missing, some ingredients but i could not resist it. People know everything what need to be known about a legend like yuvraj, except some media paparazzi. Doesn't matter if you are an atheist or not or get fear from god or not fear from cancer. You never get to know when your breath becomes air. Cancer takes all mental and physical strength once you had. He got lucky but not everyone could be.
The journey of cancer is very tough. Not only for the patient but for the family and friends too. Yuvraj has done a great job telling his story of fighting with cancer and how it can mess up your life. He has proved that no matter how tough it gets, you can fight hard and come back as a winner.
Excellent write up of his experience. Being a fan of his from childhood, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and the tears (both happy and sad) were of course unstoppable. This book is a must read if you are a cricket fan especially an ICT fan !
This book is about the Cricket & Cancer as it happened with the cricketer Yuvraj Singh @YUVSTRONG12 & human spirit!! Being in a Pharmaceutical background with Pharmacology as a subject, I have this professional, medical knowledge about the disease & treatments but more so, on a personal note, I picked up this book to read because of some personal experience, a close brush with this "C" word in my immediate family in recent past. So, I wanted to know about Yuvi's overcoming of the same & his 'take' before & after bouncing back to the life & field & this book did not disappoint. As expected, there's a lots of details about cricket & tournaments & jargon (😄 I am not as much knowledge about the game or a passionate afficinado of cricket like my Dad), but I loved to read this book. I loved some funny details too shared by him in the book, like Virat Kohli is called "Cheeku" after some character in 'Champak', Gautaum Gambhir was 'Gauti' & others As Mama, Gajini & all among his team mates; Also that they referred to their kitbags as "coffins"!! But most of all, I loved Yuvi's hope among despair & his infectious die-hard spirit & genuine attempt at 'glam' smile😊 even during his ongoing chemo treatments, as evident from his pics as posted inside this book. Rare is such souls who can keep his spirit up even in troubled times & inspire others at the same time👍kudos to Mr. Yuvraj Singh!! Yes, with #YOUWECAN. Lastly, I got the copy in our college library, as a director to motivate our young student cricket team who comes out as the winning team almost every time in finals of campus cricket tournament events!!👍04 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is really very good in looking more closely into a sportsman life. It gives us the idea of the amount of pressure generated on the players during the game. In a game like cricket which is played and watched with so much passion in INDIA, it gives a greater amount of responsibility on the shoulders of the players where some of the players like Sachin Tendulkar are seen as GOD of cricket and literally worshiped by the crowd. The book also very well described the very state of mind of a person going through a treatment and the kind of support that is required at the time of fighting the illness from the people around us. Like mentioned in the book Yuvi's mother and friends were quite supportive in making him go through the tough treatment of chemotherapy and help him recover fast and make all of us proud by rejoining cricket and also the start of an organisation named 'YOUWECAN' which provides medical and mental support to all of the cancer patients.
I absolutely loved this book,and not because I had a crush on Yuvi when I was in school,but because it is totally inspiring.This book is an honest narration of his extra ordinary life.He has described his struggles through cricket as well as cancer very matter-of-factly without blaming anyone.He doesn't curse circumstances or wallow in self pity or cry about his misfortunes.And that's what I loved most about it.Inspite of a major part of it being about cancer,it is not bleak ,it is filled with positivity.The unbreakable bond between him and his mother,his struggle to be a part of the Indian team,his fear when he was first diagnosed with cancer,his fight against cancer,the care he received from the medical staff,the support from his friends,the gratitude he has towards them and his journey back to the World Cup winning Indian team ,everything has been expressed simply but beautifully. Cricket-lover or not,cancer patient or not,doesn't matter,this book is a must read for everyone.
The Test of My Life is a real life story based on Yuvraj Singh's struggle through cancer and back to life. The book tells how Yuvi became a cricketer and how he grew up as a human being throughout this journey. Very simply written which gives a feeling that you are hearing the story from Yuvi's mouth itself. This book would be an inspiration for upcoming cricketers as well as cancer survivors. It gives hope to those who struggle through difficulties of life. You feel bad when the details of Yuvi's chemotherapy is recited in such depth and he explains the agony he went through during those times. Being a cricket fan myself, I was well aware of Yuvi's illness but reading the book firsthand literally brought tears to my eyes. Overall a good book.
Never read such genuine description. Initially it excited me, then it showed the depressing side of sports and ended with the battle with Cancer. In the end I was wondering if Yuvi had been a normal person would such turnaround in small time be possible. When I see Yuvi's batting in T20 today, I am reminded of all the fights he battled and his comeback. My Grandfather had cancer and he couldn't make it. I wish he had survived the intense pain and radiation sessions. I actually ended up a bit depressed but life is tough. you get to listen to such things bit often. A tale of courage and determination. Simply.
It's always been an Emotion and Excitement watching Yuvraj Singh in the ground on TV while he's playing- whether it's his Bating, Bowling, Fielding, Celebrating or Anything.
Felt the same while reading this book from him. Best Book from the Best Man of Cricket World.
Knew him as the great fighter in the game of Cricket. Same way he fought with life as well.
This book was completely inspirational n kept our spirits up thru out the book. Yuvi has shared his worst period of his lyf, his emotional check he often kept, how he overcame all these. Chemotherapy which is the hardest part in any o ne s lyf should not be feared abt it rather, face it with strength and confidence. really great chap yuvi......
This is an honest book, written when he was going through a tough time. People who are in the same situation will be able to relate to it better. It is definitely not a literary read....but is an honest attempt to record the pain and suffering.
Only wish the editor could have been more careful of the jumps in the story...spelling mistakes and bad grammar!
We can know the actual thought process and mental state of someone suffering from cancer. Yuvraj had been such a great character and such a wonderful player over years for India. This story is pure inspiration.
" If Yuvi can, you we can."
Also, it takes us back to the time in 2011 where men in blue finally lifted the world cup after 28 years!
Forget about the cricketing aspect of this book. The fact that Yuvraj managed to defeat cancer and managed to get back to normal life, is itself a miracle. This book is a must for everyone who wants to instil confidence in themselves to beat this deadly disease. If Yuvi can, you can !! Well done, Yuvi. This book is a gem.
Fight from the cancer and coming back would never have been easy. Playing cricket and won India its world cup after 28 years couldn't have been possible without him.
A real inspiration for all the Cancer patients and their families out there. I realy enjoyed the book. Yuvi talks aboput his life in a more or less funny way,
#Binge Reviewing my previous Reads #Sports #Cricket
There are cricketing autobiographies that celebrate centuries, records, and triumphs, and then there are those that step into a quieter, more vulnerable territory. Yuvraj Singh’s The Test of My Life belongs firmly to the latter category.
It is not a tale of a sportsman reliving glory ball by ball but of a man confronting mortality and discovering reserves of strength that no cricket field had demanded of him before.
I picked this book up with the memory of Yuvraj’s World Cup heroics still bright in my mind—the six sixes against Stuart Broad, the match-winning partnerships, the swagger that made him an icon of modern Indian cricket.
But here, that flamboyance is tempered with the stark reality of his battle with cancer. What emerges is a layered portrait of the boy shaped by his father’s harsh discipline, the player who thrived under the pressure of expectations, and the man who suddenly had to learn to fight not bowlers but his own body.
Reading it, I found myself drawn into the emotional honesty with which he speaks of chemo sessions, of moments of despair in a foreign hospital, of clinging to the thought that he had unfinished work left in cricket. There is no self-pity here, but there is a rawness that makes you pause, even as you hear the voice of the fighter who refused to surrender.
It isn’t just a memoir of illness. The book also peels back the curtain on Indian cricket—its pressures, politics, and the fragile human beings behind the glossy TV frames. Yuvraj gives glimpses of his relationships with teammates, his bond with Sachin Tendulkar, and the silent solidarity that carried him through the World Cup even as his body was breaking down.
For me, The Test of My Life is not only about cricket but about resilience. It reminded me that while boundaries and trophies are celebrated, the true test lies in standing up when everything seems to be crumbling. Yuvraj’s return to cricket after cancer was not just a comeback; it was an assertion of will, a declaration that life would not be dictated by disease.
Reading it during quiet evenings, I found myself reflecting on the word “test”.
For Yuvraj, the World Cup was a test of skill. Cancer was the test of life. And his story is a testament to how courage, family, and faith can carry one through both.
Yuvraj Singh- the test of my life- from cricket to cancer and back- is the inspiration story of Yuvraj Singh, Indian International cricketer about his health after 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup match. He has narrated his life – how his father encouraged him to play cricket from an early age and brought opportunity to play local, State and national level cricket under 15 and under 18 boys. As a grown up player he has described the life of a sports person- getting hurt during practice sessions, getting body parts fractured facing speedster bowlers and cough and colds during excessive travelling and change in weather at various stadiums keep happening and team physiotherapist comes to know and helps players by recommending exercises and massages to become fit for the match. For Yuvraj Singh, Cancer developed in his body and he did not bother to consult a specialist doctor until the ICC World cup final was over. He tried to control through acupuncture for some time. Later on also after the doctors at Bengaluru diagnosed Cancer and directed him to get proper treatment. In the Book, he has written how he got the cancer tests done in Delhi and reports shown to expert Oncologists in London and Indianapolis USA. In London, he was supported by his friend’s family. Ultimately, he decided to take treatment at Simon Cancer Centre, Indianapolis, USA. He took an apartment on rent and stayed with his mother and friends for the treatment. He has described how he suffered ups and downs of chemotherapy and ultimately came out successful. He has opened his heartfelt feeling in the Book which makes to interesting reading. The Book shows how the Indian cricket administration helped him. Cancer is a dreaded disease and reader can easily associate with the inspirational story. It is a must read for all.