Yashpal Singh, born on November 27, 1981 in Delhi, is a right-handed middle-order batsman who also bowls medium pace. The discipline, spirit, hard work and stamina that come with being a Petty Officer with the Indian Navy gives him the edge to make it big at the international level.
Born and brought up in Delhi, Yashpal Singh joined the Sonnet Cricket Club and was coached by Tarak Sinha. During the 2001-02 season, he made his First-class debut for the Services team against Delhi and proved his run-scoring skills with two half-centuries against a formidable bowling attack. In his second match, Yashpal Singh struck a double century that included 17 boundaries and 10 sixes and ensured a first-innings lead for his team against the Punjab side. In the 52 matches that he has played so far, he has managed to amass a total of 4287 runs, which include 23 half-centuries and 10 centuries. In the bowling department, Yashpal Singh has so far has managed to pick 27 scalps with three four-wicket hauls to his credit.
He made his debut in List A matches too during the 2001-02 season and has since played in 37 matches at this level. With twelve half-centuries and two centuries, Yashpal Singh has made 1381 runs and his highest score till date is 104.
On May 24, 2005, playing in the Lala Raghubir Singh cricket tournament for the Sonnet Club, Yashpal Singh hit a huge score of 143, which included ten sixes and an equal number of fours, and helped his team to a 143-run win over K.N.Colts to enter the quarter-finals. In the Hutch Cup, which concluded in June 2005 Yashpal Singh was adjudged the best batsman of the tournament.
On April 7, 2007, Yashpal Singh made his Twenty20 (T20) debut for Services against the Jammu and Kashmir team at Delhi. In September 2008, he represented the Indian Navy team in the JCD International T20 Cricket League and his 45-run partnership with teammate Amit Kumar helped his team defeat the Air India team by 16 runs. He was brought into the Kolkata Knight Riders team for a bid value of US$ 62,500 for the 2008 Indian Premier League (IPL).
This hard-hitting batsman who is capable of hitting the ball to all parts of the ground, can also be at the crease for long and compile huge scores. He idolizes the Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and admires the Indian Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar. Yashpal Singh aims to represent India in the international Test arena as an all-rounder and is working on his bowling skills to make his dream a reality.
