Recalling the top 5 knocks of Yuvraj Singh as he turns 38

One of the best all-rounders India has ever produced, former cricketer Yuvraj Singh celebrates his 38th birthday today. The King of Comebacks, as he is called for the comeback that he made in international cricket after fighting cancer, is best remembered for his role in India’s World T20 triumph in 2007 and the ODI World Cup triumph from 2011. Be it taking wickets at the right time, or batting at a strike rate in excess of 150 or flying in the air to take a catch, Yuvraj was a three-dimensional cricketer.

After being out of favour for the past few years, Yuvraj retired from international cricket and the IPL earlier this year, while making himself available for other franchise cricket tournaments across the world. Most recently, he played the Global T20 Canada, followed by the Abu Dhabi T10. On the swashbuckling batsman’s birthday, here’s recalling his top five innings of all time.

India vs England in Durban, 2007

Yuvraj hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over

No cricket fan in India will forget this particular innings from Yuvraj. The southpaw unleashed the aggressive hitter in him and hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in a single over during the India vs England T20 World Cup match in 2007.

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On the back of the six sixes, Yuvraj went on to score a half-century off just 12 balls which still remains the fastest in International cricket. Thanks to his knock, India posted 218 runs in the first innings and comfortably won the match by 18 runs.

India vs West Indies in Chennai, 2011

India v West Indies: Group B - 2011 ICC World Cup

Despite being unwell, which the fans got to know only after the batsman’s battle with cancer was made official, Yuvraj went on to slam 113 runs in the Chennai heat in the 2011 World Cup. His knock was laced by 10 fours and two sixes. This was his 13th ODI ton which helped India put on 268 runs in the first innings and win the game by 80 runs. This knock became one of his most special given that he played it while his body had started showing signs of cancer.

The 2011 World Cup was all about Yuvraj. Among his other special performances in the tournament is the one against Australia in the quarter-final. Yuvraj picked up two wickets and then shared a 74-run stand with Suresh Raina to help India reach the semi-final. His contribution with the bat was a 65-ball 57.

India vs England in Cuttack, 2017

Yuvraj and Dhoni shared a record 256-run partnership in Cuttack

Just when fans thought that Yuvraj's days in international cricket were almost over, the southpaw made yet another grand return to cricket, this time after beating cancer.

Yuvraj registered his highest ODI score against England in the second ODI of 2017 home series in Cuttack. India were stuttering at 25-3 when Yuvraj and Dhoni shared an impressive 256-run partnership, in which most of the runs were scored by the former. He scored a 127-ball 150, laced by several boundaries. The partnership guided India to 381 runs in the first innings followed by a comfortable 15-run win.

India vs Australia in Sydney, 2004

Yuvraj smashed a 122-ball 139 against Australia in 2004

In India’s tour of Australia in 2004, Yuvraj’s innings in the seventh ODI is still remembered as one of his best, because it was never easy to score a century in Australia.

When players like Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid could do little to nothing in the game, it was Yuvraj who rose to the challenge against a strong Australian bowling attack, but in a losing cause. He smashed 139 runs off just 122 deliveries but Australia clinched the match by two wickets.

India vs Australia in Kenya, 2000

Australia v India 2000 - when an 18-year-old Yuvraj scored an 80-ball 84

This knock remains special because it came when Yuvraj was just 18 years old and a new kid in international cricket. India were facing Australia in the ICC KnockOut Trophy that was held in Kenya and were struggling at 90/3 with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly having been dismissed in quick sessions. Then entered a curly-haired Yuvraj who took on bowlers like Glenn McGrath Brett Lee with the utmost ease. He scored an 80-ball 84 and took India's total to 265.

In the second innings, Yuvraj executed a brilliant run-out of Michael Bevan as India won by 20 runs and the all-rounder won the Man of the Match award.