Yuvraj Singh - the man who won India big tournaments

#5 A supporting role in other tournament victories

Yuvraj Singh times one through backward point - Asia Cup T20 2016.

Yuvraj's performances helped India win many tournaments, such as the ODI series in Pakistan in 2006; the ODI series against England in India in 2006 as well as 2008; T20 series against Australia in 2013 at home and in Australia in 2016; the ODI series in New Zealand in 2009; the ODI series in West Indies in 2009; and India's historic Test victories in West Indies (2006) and in New Zealand (2009).

Some of Yuvraj's best performances came when the team's chips were down, including during his maiden innings against Australia during the 2000 Champions Trophy, against Sri Lanka and South Africa during their respective home triangular tournaments in 2001, in New Zealand during 2002-03, and against West Indies during the Sri Lanka tri-series and against Zimbabwe during the tri series in Zimbabwe - both in 2005.

Yuvraj certainly made a stake for a Test spot after his consistency in India's only Test series victory in Pakistan. In the first Test at Multan, Yuvraj scored a quickfire 59, followed by a 112 off just 129 balls in the second Test at Lahore and a 47 in the third Test at Rawalpindi. His counterattacking 158 in the third Test against Pakistan at Bengaluru in 2007 helped India beat Pakistan in a Test series in India after 35 years.

While the 2016 Asia Cup T20 was not his best tournament by any stretch of the imagination, Yuvraj was one of India's most dependable batsmen in a low-scoring tournament. Yuvraj was the only batsman who provided constant support to Virat Kohli and company as India chased down moderate-to-low totals throughout the tournament.

Yuvraj had a similar role to play in the ICC World T20 tournament that followed. He did not get a fifty in that tournament either, but provided Virat Kohli good support in the match against Pakistan. In the virtual quarterfinal against Australia, he took a wicket and scored a 21 amid a stabilizing partnership of 45 with Kohli after India lost the first three wickets for just 49. The remarkable thing about that knock was that it came after Yuvraj injured his foot early in the innings, to be ruled out of the semifinal and the remainder of the tournament.

He always won important matches for the team, when he became a senior member in the team. While most of his fifty-plus knocks helped the team win, only some of his big scores saw India lose. When he was recalled to the Indian team for one last time, he had only three matches to prove his worth.

In the second of those matches, against England in Pune in 19 January 2017, India were 25 for 3, when Yuvraj smashed his maiden ODI 150 to take India to an unassailable score of 381 for 4. This was followed by a man-of-the-match performance in India's Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan four months later.

In his last appearance for India, which came seven matches later, Yuvraj came in to bat with India reeling at 34 for 2. He scored a fluent 39 amid a 66-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane to take India past 100, before falling to Devendra Bishoo. India scored 251 in the end and won the match by 93 runs.

Just like his debut match (against Kenya at Nairobi in 2000) and debut innings (against Australia in the next match), his last appearance at the crease in what was his last game also resulted in a victory for India.