The great Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from International and first class cricket after playing for almost 18 years for India. A career full of ups and downs, but certainly a career that helped India win several memorable matches. He helped India win two Worldcups, and in both the Worldcups he was the Man of the series.
1. Man of the match in his Debut match against Australia
Yuvraj made an instant impact in Indian cricket when he made his debut way back in 2000 at Nairobi in the champions trophy against the World Champions Australia. Yuvi stroked a brilliant half century against a quality Australian attack when he was just a teenager. He scored a match winning 84 off just 80 deliveries, and also took a blinder at backward point along with executing a runout. He was adjudged the player of the match for his outstanding innings.
2. Natwest Series, Final 2002
Chasing 326 India were in a spot of bother, as they lost wickets in a heap and was on the verge of losing yet another Final. But then one of the great ODI Partnership between Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif commenced. The duo added 121 runs for the sixth wicket and helped India achieve an outstanding victory over England in the Finals. Yuvraj scored a delightful 69 at a strike rate of 110.
3. 6 sixes in an Over
Yuvraj Singh will always be remembered for that unforgettable night at Durban in 2007, when he hit Stuart Broad for Six sixes in an over. Yuvraj smashed Stuart Broad to all parts of the ground and lit up the inaugural World T20. Yuvraj made an astonishing 58 runs off just 16 balls. He registered the quickest half century in t20 cricket, 12 balls is all it took for Yuvraj Singh to smash the fastest t20 fifty.
4. Man of the Series in World T20, 2007
Yuvraj was a big event player, he played at a different level when the pressure was on. He made the first ever world T20 World cup his own by playing some of the greatest t20 innings. Whether it be his scintillating innings against England or that Swashbuckling innings in the semi finals against Australia He was adjudged the Player of the series and helped India win the event in South Africa.
5. Player of the tournament in the 2011 Cricket World cup
Yuvraj showcased his talent once again on the world stage when he won the player of the series award in the 2011 world cup and helped India win the World Cup after 28 long years. He scored three half centuries against Ireland, England, Australia and Netherlands. He also picked a 5 wicket haul against Ireland at Bangalore. Yuvi was sensational in the 2011 World Cup, with his best innings being the 113 he made against the West Indies under extremely difficult situations at Chennai.
6. Fight against Cancer
Yuvraj was a champion not only on the field but also off it, just after the 2011 World Cup triumph he was diagnosed with a Cancerous tumour in his left lung. He then underwent surgery in the US, and in March 2012 he finally won the battle against cancer and returned back to India. He then made a comeback for India in 2016 and also played in the Champions trophy in 2017 in England.
7. Yuvraj’s Golden Era
In ODIs between 2005-2011 Yuvraj won the most number of player of the match and series awards. This was Yuvraj Singh’s prime and he made the full use of it, by consistently winning big matches for India with both bat and ball. In that span, he won 18 player of the match awards along with 7 player of the series awards.
