Mumbai: One of the most iconic players in cricketing history, Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement on June 10 at a press conference in Mumbai.
Though the player’s greatest victory will be his winning battle against cancer in 2011-2012, we remember Yuvraj’s three most iconic moments wearing the national colours from his career of nearly two decades, amongst countless performances that established the player as a powerful all-rounder.
3. Six 6’s
When the ICC World Twenty20 was organised for the first time in 2007, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh were named Captain and Vice-Captain of the Indian team.
During a Super-8 match against England, Yuvraj created history by hitting six 6s in a single over. Though it was the fourth time six 6s were hit in an over, it was the first time it was done in aTwenty20 match.
Yuvraj made 50 runs off just 12 balls, which till date remains the fastest 50 scored in a Twenty20 game. Singh finished the innings with 58 runs off 16 balls.
Stuart Broad, the pace bowler who faced Singh’s assault admitted years later that Yuvraj’s six 6s made him the bowler he is.
Singh won Man of the Match as India beat England in the game.
2. 2007 World Cup performance
After setting England on fire in the Super-8 match, Yuvraj missed India’s next game in the series against South Africa due to an injury. The player however recovered before the semi-final clash against Australia. He scored 70 runs off 30 balls in the match, also hitting the longest six of the tournament against Brett Lee, standing at 119 meters.
India won the semifinal game, with Yuvi grabbing yet another Man of the Match.
Though he didn’t perform very well in the Final against Pakistan, India won the match by 5 runs.
While all players of the tournament-winning squad were awarded Rs 80 Lakh by the BCCI, Yuvraj Singh earned an additional Rs 1 crore, along with a Porsche 911 sports car by BCCI Vice-President Lalit Modi for his exceptional performance.
1. 2011’s Golden World Cup run
In what was perhaps the cricketer’s best performing year of all time, Yuvraj showed his best form since the Twenty20 tournament in 2007. He won the Man of the Match in four games.
In the match against Ireland, Yuvraj became the first player to take five wickets and score 50 runs in a world cup match.
In the match against the Netherlands, Singh took his 100th ODI wicket by dismissing Wesley Baressi.
India knock out Australia in CWC11 quarter-final
Player of the Tournament in 2011, Yuvraj Singh, who turns 36 today, was key in knocking out defending champions Australia in the quarter-final! 🇮🇳
Against Australia, Yuvraj made 113 runs in a difficult chase in the Chennai heat. Despite even throwing up a few times through the game, the batsman continued to score and roared in celebration as India won the match. India went on to beat Sri Lanka in the finals and won the tournament.
Yuvraj scored 362 runs throughout the tournament, including one century and four half-centuries. He also bagged a total of 15 wickets, winning the player of the series.
Yuvraj will forever remain in the hearts of Indian cricket fans and be remembered through the cricket fraternity amongst the best all-rounders of the game, being a powerful batsman and a merciless spinner.
