Yuvi Special: 5 most memorable knocks of Yuvraj Singh’s career
Former Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh would always be hailed as one of the greatest match-winners in white-ball format. In his glorious international career of 18 years, the veteran all-rounder played many knocks that would be remembered for ages by cricket fans. As the southpaw celebrates his birthday on December 12, let’s take a look at 5 memorable knocks from his career.
139 vs Australia at Sydney, 2004
In 2004, India, Australia and Zimbabwe were involved in an ODI tri-series in Australia. During a game between India and Australia at the SCG, India’s swashbuckling batsman Yuvraj Singh initiated a carnage with his willow as he smashed the ball all over the park. Winning the toss, India were reeling at a score of 80/3 as Australia’s pace attack breathed fire with the ball. This is when Yuvraj stepped in and accumulated 139 runs off 122 deliveries to take his team to a respectable 296 in 50 overs. His knock included 16 boundaries and two maximums at a strike rate of 113.93. However, Australia managed to emerge victorious in the game due to the D/L method.
150 vs England at Cuttack, 2017
This could be considered as one of Yuvi’s finest ODI knocks as he went on to register his highest ODI score. Also, this innings was important for Yuvraj in many ways as it came on his comeback trail. Losing the toss, India were sent to bat first in the second ODI of three-match series against England at Cuttack. The Indian top-order witnessed a collapse that day as the team was reeling at 25-3 when MS Dhoni joined Yuvraj at the crease. The two legends stitched a 256-run partnership to post a humongous total of 381 on the board. Yuvraj smashed 150 off 127 balls while Dhoni added 134 to the scoreboard. The left-hander was named the Man of the Match as India won the game by 15 runs.
113 vs West Indies at Chennai, 2011 World Cup
India finally lifted the ICC World Cup Trophy in 2011 after a long wait of 28-years and a lot of credit for the same goes to Yuvraj Singh. For his heroics with the ball, Yuvraj was also rightly adjudged the ‘Player of the Tournament’. One of the best knocks of Yuvraj’s career came against West Indies in Chennai in a group stage match. Despite battling cough and spitting blood, a symptom of his cancer ailment, the all-rounder notched up 113 including 10 boundaries and two sixes to take India home. On the back of a sensational knock by Yuvraj, India managed to post a total of 268 and comfortably won the game by 80 runs.
70 vs Australia at Durban, 2007 T20 World Cup semi-final
Yuvraj ripped apart Australia’s bowling line-up at Durban during the semi-finals of the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup to book India’s berth in the final. The southpaw scored 70 runs off just 30 deliveries to help India post a daunting target of 188 on the board in 20 overs. He smashed 5 boundaries and 5 maximums at a strike rate of 233.33 in his innings. Australia failed to chase this massive target and fell short of 15 runs. India then defeated Pakistan in the final to win the maiden ICC T20 tournament.
58 vs England at Durban, 2007 T20 World Cup
No cricket fan can ever forget the visuals of Yuvraj Singh smashing six sixes off six consecutive deliveries from Stuart Broad in a group game between England and India. That day, Yuvraj scored 58 runs off just 16 balls to help India post a total of 218 in 20 overs and win the game by 18 runs. India’s left-handed batsman still holds the record for the fastest half-century in T20I cricket with his 16-ball 58.
