Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Monday bringing an end to an international career spanning nearly 17 years.
Yuvraj established himself as one of the best limited overs players India has ever produced. In 304 ODI matches, Yuvraj scored 8701 runs and averaged 36.55, making him India's seventh highest run-scorer in the format. He was also a more-than-handy spinner and was recognised as one of the best fielders in the world at his peak.
He led India to the 2011 Cricket World Cup victory, starring both as a bowler and a batsman throughout the tournament and earned the ‘Man of the Series’ honour. He also made a comeback to international cricket after receiving treatment for cancer.
TNM takes a look at 5 of his best moments in the Indian jersey.
1. 69, 2002 Natwest final vs England in England
At 146-5 with Sachin Tendulkar walking back to the pavilion, few inside the Lord's Cricket Ground watching the 2002 Natwest series final would have given India any hope of winning the match. But Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif, relative newcomers at the time, struck fifties to ensure India stayed alive in the game. Although Yuvraj was later dismissed for 69, Kaif managed to bat with the tail-enders and lead India to a famous win.
2. 50 not out, 2003 Cricket World Cup vs Pakistan in South Africa
In the high-voltage World Cup match against Pakistan, India was tasked with chasing 274 runs. Opening the innings, Sachin Tendulkar played one of his finest World Cup innings to put India in a comfortable position. But after his dismissal for 98 by Shoaib Akhtar, it was Yuvraj Singh who joined Rahul Dravid to guide India to victory in a tense chase with a controlled 50 not out.
3. 58 (16), 2007 ICC World T20 vs England in South Africa
Who can forget the 2007 World T20 match against England where Yuvraj Singh smashed six sixes in an over bowled by English fast bowler Stuart Broad. He scored the fastest fifty in T20 internationals in just 12 balls and finished the innings with 58 runs off just 16 balls. Prior to hitting the sixes, he had an on-field run-in with English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. Although Flintoff managed to dismiss Yuvraj, the damage had been done by then and Yuvraj had helped India post a formidable score of 218. England lost that match in spite of scoring 200 runs in their innings.
4. 57 not out at the 2011 Cricket World Cup vs Australia in India
Yuvraj's all-round performance earned him the Man of the Tournament award and while he scored 113 against the West Indies in India's final group game, the performance against Australia in the quarter-final ensured India beat the defending champions and reached the semifinals. He first took two wickets and then his 74-run stand with Suresh Raina from a position of peril at 187-5 guided India to victory.
5. 150 vs England in India, 2017
This was part of Yuvraj's second comeback to international cricket post his cancer treatment and the series was his first in ODIs since December 2013. Yuvraj was dismissed for 15 runs in the first match in rather unceremonious fashion. His second innings however was part of an extraordinary 256-run stand with M.S. Dhoni, who also scored his first ton since stepping down as captain. Yuvraj was well into his twilight years by this point and ended up smashing his highest score in ODI cricket by scoring 150 off just 127 balls.
With IANs inputs