Yuvraj Singh is known to be a fighter. His comeback from Cancer has been a story in itself for those suffering to not lose hope. 10 years back though Yuvraj Singh did the unthinkable in T20I history by hitting six sixes in an over. Something, that still remains an unbeaten record of all time.
Ten years ago Kingsmead saw an iconic match that changed stats in sports history books forever. Yuvraj Singh had just had a tiff with a player of the other team and was furious. Little did he know that the pent up anger will lead him to a run chase.
Yuvraj Singh made records by hitting six consecutive sixes off a hapless Stuart Broad during the India-England match of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa. Of all achievements the most talked about still remains his feat of September 19, 2007.
It was a bickering of sorts with Andrew Flintoff that charged up Yuvraj. While six sixes in six balls is a fourth time in the history of cricket, in T20I it was the first. The left hander proved his prowess in that game.
The first delivery was swung over midwicket for a massive six and the ball landed outside the stadium. The second was flicked behind square for six more. On third ball, Yuvraj carved the ball over the covers. Broad changed his anglebut to no avail. The ball was slashed over backward point. Four balls, four sixes.
In the fifth ball Yuvraj hit the ball over midwicket for his fifth six.
Broad delivered a half-volley and turned his head as Yuvraj smashed the ball over midwicket to make it six sixes off the over. It was notably a 12-ball half-century, the fastest in T20Is.
England fell short by 18 runs, failing to register a win in the Super Eights. Yuvraj has had a phenomenal run with India and was the major protagonist in the country’s triumph at the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup after 28 years.
With 304 ODIs to his name which has brought 8,701 runs, Yuvraj has seen it all.
Before Yuvraj, this feat was achieved by West Indies’ Gary Sobers who became the first batsman to hit six sixes in a row in a match between Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan on August 31, 1968. Ravi Shastri also features in the list as the stylish all-rounder was the second man to hit six sixes in a match against Baroda in 1985.
Yuvraj Singh started making waves in the gentleman’s game very early in life. Yuvraj Singh cast a spell in junior and Under-19 cricket.
Yuvraj bravely faced criticism about lack of commitment and focus.
He made his way back to the team and showed greater will and skill later. His match winning knock at the 2002 Natwest Series at Lord’s was a memorable one.
His electric fielding was an added asset for the team.
Yuvraj apart from the Broad episode is also known for the fastest 50 in any international cricket game — off just 12 balls.
Despite being a giant in the shorter formats, he gained a more permanent place in the Test side with the retirement of Sourav Ganguly and played a mature supporting role in an emotionally charged Test match against England.
Yuvraj was one of the five senior players who were not considered for the 2015 World Cup and was not included in India’s 30-man probables list for the tournament. But he showed class in the Ranji season.
Yuvraj hit jackpot on becoming the costliest player in the 2015 IPL auctions.
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