10 things to know about Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh, perhaps the most dazzling, popular and famed middle-order batsman that India have had in the modern times, has had a glittering career that has spanned over 14 years. Debuting as a 19-year old, after his remarkable performance in the U-19 World Cup in 2000, Yuvraj climbed the ladder of success, in an emphatic fashion, with his peak periods coming between 2006 and 2008, as well as during the 2011 World Cup.As the sixer-king turns 34 today, we look back at what has been a truly remarkable career, studded with records, memories, disappointments, and most of all, victories, that he, at times, single-handedly gifted the team with.

#1 U-19 Star

Yuvraj was first recognized during the U-19 World Cup of the year 2000.

The first glimpse that the world saw, of this hard-hitting southpaw from Punjab, was during the U-19 World Cup of 2000 held in Sri Lanka. He scored 203 runs in the tournament at a strike-rate of 103 and also took 12 wickets at 11.50. This also included a 25-ball 58 against Australia in the semi-final, a knock that included 5 fours and 5 sixes.

The prelude to his performance seven years later against the same opponent in the T20 World Cup was perhaps laid then and there. In less than a year after this, he was playing for India.

#2 Second-game brilliance

Yuvraj announced his arrival in the international arena with an 80-ball 84 against Australia

It took just two games for Yuvraj to mark his presence on the international sphere, as in the quarter-finals of the ICC Knockout Trophy 2000, he hit a scintillating 80-ball 84 against Australia, that led his side into the final of the tournament. India lost to New Zealand in the finale, but Yuvraj’s appearance had been noticed by the world.

#3 Nearly the first ton

Early glimpses of Yuvraj revealed that he was capable of playing a patient knock.

Yuvraj nearly got his first ODI hundred, less than a year after he made his debut, when he remained unbeaten on 98 against Sri Lanka in 2001. The knock contained 6 fours and 1 six, and it came on a slow SSC pitch, in Colombo, after the match was affected by rain.

It became evident after this game that the swashbuckling hitter could play a patient game and adjust according to the situations as and when required. India went on to win the game by 46 runs.

#4 Yuvraj immortalized- Lord\'s heroics

Yuvraj became the man India had been waiting for, when against all odds, he helped orchestrate one of India’s finest run-chases.

The man was, till this happened, known to be a bright young talent, who fields exceptionally well, bats well, and can hit long sixes. But, Yuvraj Singh post the Natwest Series, was a hero that India always wanted. In an era, when a first innings score in excess of 300 guaranteed you the win, he, along with his team-mate from the U-19 days, Mohammad Kaif led India to a historic victory against England in 2002 Natwest Series final.

Set 326 to win, India were five down for 146, when Yuvraj and Kaif stitched a partnership that changed the way the world looked at Indian cricket. They put up 121 runs for the sixth wicket, and although Yuvi departed after that, Kaif made sure that India crossed the line.

#5 World Cup debut

The southpaw played a pivotal role in India’s World Cup victory over Pakistan in 2003.

Yuvraj, just three years after his debut, was playing in his debut World Cup, and rose to the occasion, when it mattered the most. In a clash against arch-rivals, Pakistan, he along with Rahul Dravid rescued India from a position of trouble and guided them home.

Though this game would forever be remembered for Sachin Tendulkar’s masterclass and the six that he hit off Shoaib Akhtar, Yuvraj and Dravid’s contributions were equally important. Yuvraj had made the most valuable half-century of his short career.

#6 The golden period, 2006-08

Yuvraj’s golden period began in 2006 with the tour of Pakistan.

While Yuvi sizzled with the bat with his 139 against Australia at the SCG in 2004, and his maiden Test century against Pakistan in Lahore in 2004, his era of reckoning came in 2006, when after a century in vain against the neighbours at Karachi in 2006, Yuvraj came of his own in the ODI series that followed.

He made three 50 plus scores in the 5-match series, the most noticeable one being the knock of 107 in the final game, when he batted with a hamstring injury, to gift India their second series win in consecutive attempts on the Pakistani soil.

#7 T20- Yuvraj\'s territory

He smashed 6 sixes of as many balls against Stuart Broad in the 2007 World T20.

The advent of T20 cricket was done for Yuvraj it seemed, as in the first T20 World Cup held in South Africa in 2007, he became synonymous to demolition. The carnage that he created at the expense of a young Stuart Broad is for the world to see.

After hitting six sixes in an over, a feat yet unmatched in T20 cricket after 8 years, he made a 30-ball 70 against Australia in the semi-finals. This tournament placed Yuvraj in the list of one of the most destructive and clean hitters in the history of the game.

#8 Emotions galore- India fights back

Yuvraj was there alongside Tendulkar, when India achieved one of its most emotional victories.

In one of the most emotional Test victories for India, Yuvraj held fort at one end, as Sachin Tendulkar, helped by a blizzardly innings by Virender Sehwag, led India to a monumental victory against England in Chennai in 2008, in a Test series that had transpired immediately after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

This picture of Yuvraj bare-hugging Tendulkar would forever be imprinted on every Indian’s heart, perhaps forever. Yuvraj made 85 not out in that game and bulit a partnership of 263 runs with the master to complete a humungous chase of 387 runs.

#9 Yuvraj\'s World Cup- 2011

Yuvi was India’s hero in the 2011 World Cup.

After a brief dip in form in 2010, Yuvraj’s final run for glory began in the 2011 World Cup- a tournament that he made his own. He scored 362 runs in the tournament, picked-up 15 wickets, and four man-of-the-match awards.

It included one century- against West Indies- and four half centuries, with the most noticeable one coming against Australia in the quarter-final. India went on to win the World Cup for the second time, and after 28 years, and Yuvarj was India’s man. He was also the Man of the Series.

#10 The Test of Yuvraj\'s life

Yuvraj, on his return from cancer- stronger than ever.

Tragedy struck post the 2011 World Cup, as Yuvraj was diagnosed with a tumour between his lungs. He went to the US for treatment, and returned back even stronger in 2012. He had grown weak post the disaster and worked very hard on his fitness to regain his place in the side.

He also wrote his autobiography, ‘The Test Of My Life’ during this time, which has been a source of inspiration for many. Yuvi finally made his comeback, and looked like his former self in a game against Australia in the 2014 World T20, when he blasted a 43-ball 60 that included 6 fours and 4 gigantic sixes.

He’s active in domestic cricket and has been piling up runs for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy as well as the Vijay Hazare Trophy.