6 times Yuvraj Singh saved India from a humiliating loss

#2 India vs Australia 3rd ODI, Hyderabad, 2005

Ponting gives Yuvraj Singh a pat on his back as he walks out after scoring a lone warrior 121

After the first ODI being washed out due to rain, Australia defeated India in the second ODI of the 7 match series. Going into the third ODI, India wanted to win the match at any cost but Australia had another plans.

The visitors scored 290 batting first with the help of Andrew Symonds’ quickfire 89. Chasing 291, India were struggling at 13 out for 3 with Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa and Rahul Dravid being sent back to the pavilion.

Yuvraj came out to bat when India were on the back-foot and could not afford the loss of another wicket. But he and Sachin Tendulkar carried the Indian scorecard to 108, when Tendulkar fell after scoring 43 - with India requiring another 183 runs.

Yuvraj added another 65 runs for the 5th wicket, but after that India were never in the game. Yuvraj still tried his best, and despite his brilliant century India lost narrowly.

He may not have won the match for his team, but the way Yuvraj fought for the win was truly awe-inspiring.

#1 India vs South Africa, 1st ODI, Hyderabad, 2005

South Africa toured India in 2005 after five years, with hopes of winning their first bilateral ODI series against India in India. The visitors won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first in the first ODI.

South African legends Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini started toying with the Indian top order in their opening spells. India were struggling at 36-5 when Irfan Pathan joined Yuvraj Singh in the middle.

Both Yuvraj and Pathan batted slowly and steadily in the middle overs. They added 75 runs off 19 overs in their partnership for the 6th wicket when Pathan got out for 45.

Then Dhoni came out to bat, and he and Yuvraj had a run-a-ball 49-run partnership out of which 31 came off Yuvraj’s bat.

India lost Dhoni in the 39th over and after that it was all on Yuvraj’s shoulders to take the team to a respectable total. Yuvraj batted till the 48th over, scoring a magnificent 103. Harbhajan Singh then gave the finishing touches to the Indian innings and both of them guided the total to 249 runs in 50 overs.

Although India lost the match, Yuvraj was adjudged the Man of the Match for his brilliant fighting century. Later, he ended up winning the Man of the Series award too.