From Six 6s In An Over To Defeating Cancer, Here's What Made Yuvraj Singh A Champion In Life!
Yuvraj Singh is the first Indian to win Player of the tournament at both Under-19 and Cricket World Cups.
Yuvraj Singh has been one of Indian cricket's favourite sons. What makes the triple World Cup winner a household name is not just his ability to hit sixes at will but also his death-defying will that brought him out of cancer.
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As Yuvraj Singh turns 35, here's a look at his career highlights that made him a champion in not just cricket but in life in general:
The 358 Not Out Against Dhoni's Bihar
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Much before Yuvraj's exploits at the Under-19 World Cup, the thing that got him in the eye of selectors was a monumental 358 not out for Punjab against Dhoni's Bihar Under-19 side. Not many were aware of this fact and it took a movie like 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' to bring this to light.
2000 Under-19 World Cup
Reuters
One of the major reasons why Yuvraj Singh was fast-tracked into the Indian national side was his performance on the big stage at the 2000 Under-19 World Cup which India won under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif. Yuvraj's contributions were a - 68 off 62 balls and 4/36 against New Zealand in a group stage match, and a quickfire 58 off 25 balls against Australia in the semifinal. Yuvraj was also named the man of the tournament.
2000 ICC Knockout
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Yuvraj's first international assignment was the 2000 ICC Knockout tournament in Nairobi when he impressed with an 80-ball 84 against the likes of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie and a diving catch at covers to get rid of Ian Harvey. He followed that up with a quickfire 41 against South Africa in the semis.
2002 Natwest Trophy
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In the final of Natwest Trophy at Lord's, Yuvraj's 69 from 63 balls, after India were reduced to 146 for five in 24 overs, helped India eventually score a eight-wicket win and win a maiden triangular series in England under Sourav Ganguly's leadership. That win gave India the confidence to fight and compete hard against opponents in all conditions.
2007 ICC World Twenty20
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Yuvraj really imposed himself at the world stage here in South Africa and set the tournament on fire becoming the first player in T20 cricket to hit six sixes in an over - that happened against England when Stuart Broad was at the receiving end. He followed that up with yet another rollicking fifty against Australia in the semis.
2011 Cricket World Cup
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Arguably Yuvraj's best performance came at home when he returned with 362 runs including one century, four fifties and 15 wickets with his left-arm spin. He won four man of the match awards and was named the Player of the tournament. He became the first allrounder to score 300-plus runs and take 15 wickets in a single World Cup edition. In the match against Ireland, he also became the first player to score a fifty and take 5 wickets in a single ODI.
Return From Cancer
BCCL
Post ICC World Cup he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor stage-1 in his left lung and underwent chemotherapy treatment. Yuvraj had respiratory difficulties through 2011 and in May he withdrew from the ODI series in the West Indies due to an illness. It was only in November when because of the abnormal tumor in his lung, he had to pull out of the ODI series against West Indies. In March 2012, Yuvraj was discharged from hospital after completing the third and final cycle of chemotherapy and returned to India in April. Yuvraj's first match since return was in September 2012 before the ICC World T20 but just the fact that he overcame cancer and returned to play at the highest level made him a hero like no other.
And today, nearly a fortnight after getting married to actress girlfriend Hazel Keech, Yuvraj remains a hero... His 35th birthday also happened to land on a day India scored a historic Test series win over England.
Thank you everyone for your wishes ! And for the lovely gift 3-0 well done boys .great performances @imVkohli @ashwinravi99 ????@BCCI
¡ª yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) December 12, 2016
Happy birthday @YUVSTRONG12! Wish you everything bright and lofty this year. Here's a gorgeous pull shot. pic.twitter.com/5C5wDwARJU
¡ª Roha Nadeem (@RohaNadym) December 12, 2016
From dressing rooms to packed stadiums,victories to losses,we've seen it all together.Happy birthday @YUVSTRONG12! Wish you the best always. pic.twitter.com/DXEJwn6uPy
¡ª sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 12, 2016
Guess this.is what they mean by post wedding blues! Happy Birthday champion @YUVSTRONG12. let the party continue! pic.twitter.com/2jtYX9ewg8
¡ª Gautam Bhimani (@gbhimani) December 12, 2016
Happy Birthday @YUVSTRONG12
¡ª Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) December 12, 2016
6 Sixes In An Over In WT20
Man of the Series in WT20 2007
Man of the Series in World Cup 2011 pic.twitter.com/a0AFHITFc3
Happy birthday veere @YUVSTRONG12!! Enjoy your day! Khoob mazze karo! Wish you a wonderful year ahead! Love u brother from another mother! pic.twitter.com/wOfaTK1tS6
¡ª Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 12, 2016
Happy birthday big brother and a champion of all ???? so many things to Learn from you yuvi paa @YUVSTRONG12 stay blessed.see you back soon ?? pic.twitter.com/tCiWn2vWjV
¡ª hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) December 12, 2016
35 years on he's still fighting and winning. Shine on Yuvi wishing a great day and a great year ahead.@YUVSTRONG12 (2/2)
¡ª YWCFashion (@YWCFashion) December 12, 2016
Men are generally reborn post marriage... so my bro @YUVSTRONG12 Happy 1st b'day. ?? Have a great time prince @BCCI
¡ª Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) December 12, 2016
Happy birthday to our newly wed champion, @YUVSTRONG12 ! A brand new innings begins now!Wish you all the joy and happiness, always !Love ??
¡ª Archana Vijaya (@archanavijaya) December 12, 2016
