Probably one of India's poster boys in the early 2000s, Yuvraj Singh hogged the limelight at quite an early stage in his career. Being a formidable part of the India U-19 World Cup-winning team in 2000, Yuvraj soon earned a maiden India call-up for the ICC Knockout Trophy 2000. A career that had its ups and down, Yuvraj Singh was always the talking point amidst the cricketing circles. In his nearly 17-year span as an international cricketer, the Southpaw gave his fans numerous memories to cherish.
It was his ability to effortlessly tonk the ball over the boundary ropes that helped him earn a place in the Indian middle-order. He cherished great success under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly and was one of MS Dhoni's go-to man towards the later stages of his career. Despite discovering a life-threatening disease in 2011-12, Yuvraj made his comeback in 2013 before making his final appearance for India in 2017.
Here, we take a look at 5 most memorable moments from Yuvraj Singh's cricket career:
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5. Man on a comeback trial – 150 vs England in 2017
In his last year at international cricket, Yuvraj Singh slammed his highest ODI score against England at Cuttack in 2017. The left-handed batsman struck a crucial 150 off just 127 deliveries to ride India to a total of 381 in their 50 overs. It was a special knock for Yuvraj given it re-instilled the belief among the fans of his sustained quality to still play at the highest level. He was nominated the Man of the Match as India registered victory by 15 runs.
Re-live Yuvraj's highest ODI score here
4. A new kid on the block – Yuvraj impresses with 84 vs Australia
Yuvraj made his India debut against Kenya in the Knockout Trophy in 2000. However, the Chandigarh-born lad didn't get a chance to bat in his debut match. In the next match against Australia in the Quarter-Final, the onus was on Yuvraj to showcase his skills and drive the advantage home while batting in the middle-order. The youngster didn't disappoint a bit and scored a fluent 84 off just 80 balls against a potent Aussie attack.
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3. Natwest Series Final vs England 2002
Chasing a mountain of runs against England in the 2002 Natwest Series Final at Lord's, India lost the way with quick wickets in the middle-overs. Despite a fiery start, the ‘Men in Blue' could see barely see any light at the end of the tunnel. However, the young duo of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif hung in and began to frustrate the English attack. While Yuvraj (69 off 63) was aggressive of the two, Kaif played the second fiddle role. While India stumbled to a two-wicket win in the end, Yuvraj Singh began to carve an image of trust in the Indian dressing room. It was one of the defining moments in Yuvraj's early cricketing career.
2. A joy of a lifetime – Six 6s in T20 World Cup 2007
Up till the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup, Yuvraj Singh was already a household name in the Indian cricket. However, the 2007 T20 World Cup gave him global recognition in the world of cricket. Hitting England's Stuart Broad for six 6s in an over to accumulate 36 runs, Yuvraj set the T20 World Cup on fire. Later, he even played a crucial knock of 70 runs in the Quarter-Final against Australia. He was at the heart of India's success in the show-piece event which later led to a T20 revolution in the country and across the globe.
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1. Player of the tournament in 2011 Cricket World Cup
India waited for 28 long years before the World Cup was brought home in the 2011 Cricket World Cup under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. While a few senior players played their part, Yuvraj Singh was India's go-to man at the biggest stage of world cricket. The all-rounder delivered both with bat and ball. Yuvraj's inclusion in the side helped India achieve a fine balance in the playing XI. He racked up 362 runs along with 15 wickets in the entire tournament. Eventually, Yuvraj was awarded the Player of the tournament for helping India claim the coveted trophy on the home soil.
