In a press conference held in Mumbai on 10 June, Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from international cricket.
In a press conference held in Mumbai on 10 June, Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from international cricket.
He spoke to the media and said, “After a 17-year-old long journey in international cricket, I have finally decided to move on.”
He thanked Sourav Ganguly, his first international captain, for giving him the chance to play. He also thanked his idol Sachin Tendulkar who has been a great source of support for the cricketer.
The stylish left-handed batsman played some beautiful knocks. Let's relive those moments that define the cricketer:
1. ODI debut - 84 vs Australia
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The left-handed batsman, who can hit the ball with a straight bat, Yuvraj Singh made his debut in the 2000 Champions Trophy against Kenya on October 3, 2000.
He did not get a chance to bat but in the next match against Australia, Yuvraj made his batting debut and scored a match-defining 84 off 80 balls, the highest score in the match. India defeated Australia by 20 runs.
(Image: AFP)
2. NatWest ODI final - 69 at Lord’s
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England batting first scored 325. However, India started the chase very well as the captain Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag started driving the ball to the boundary with ease.
However, soon as the captain had gone, India’s suffered a big collapse as Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid was sent back to the dressing room.
Then stepped up 34 matches old Yuvraj Singh. He along with Mohammed Kaif started building Indian innings once again.
Yuvraj drove nine boundaries and one six on the way to his match-winning 69 and a brilliant 146 runs partnership with Kaif. India won the match by two wickets.
(Image: Twitter)
3. 1st ODI ton
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Bangladesh was playing India at their home. India defeated Bangladesh by 200 runs.
Yuvraj Singh proved his class and notched up first ODI hundred. He had missed his ton by two runs earlier while playing against Sri Lanka at Colombo.
(Image: AFP)
4. 2nd ODI ton
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Sourav Ganguly led India into the tri-nation series.
India lost the match against Australia by 2 wickets, but Yuvraj Singh's 139 off 143 balls grabbed the attention.
(Image: AFP)
5. Yuvraj Singh's six sixes
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The memory fresh in everyone's mind is that of Yuvraj's six sixes.
Stuart Broad's one over during 2007 World T20 proved expensive for him.
Yuvraj brought about a 12-ball half-century which is a record in all forms of international cricket.
(Image: Twitter)
6. 2007 World T20 semifinal
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In the World T20 semi-final against Australia, India batted first and got a good start from Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag.
However, after quick wickets, the match looked in control of Australia.
But, after Yuvraj Singh walked in, the match had gone out of hand for Australia. Yuvraj hit five sixes and five fours on the way to his 70 off 38 balls.
India put heavy 188 runs on board. Australia fell 15 runs short as India reached final as the first team of the World T20 and even won it beating arch-rival Pakistan.
(Image: Twitter)
7. Twin ODI tons against England
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England toured India in 2008 and Yuvraj Singh's batting made England bowlers a little puppet.
Yuvraj had an unbeaten 138 in the first ODI of the series at Rajkot, where India scored mammoth 387 and won the match by 158 runs.
In the second match in Indore, Yuvraj carried a struggling India to 292. Yuvraj scored 118, India won the match by 54 runs.
(Image: Reuters)
8. 112 off 129 balls at Lahore
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India had toured Pakistan after 14 years of gap and went on to clinch both ODI and Test series 3-2 and 2-1 respectively.
India won the first match and Pakistan came all in the second. India batting first were rattled by Umar Gul. But, Yuvraj Singh soon showed his class and notched up his first Test hundred.
His century had gone in vain as Pakistan defeated India by 9 wickets.
(Image: AFP)
9. 169 against Pakistan in Bangalore
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India were playing Pakistan at home in 2007. In the third and final Test of the series, Pakistan were trailing by 1 win.
In the farewell match of Sourav Ganguly, India batting first lost four quick wickets.
However, the deadly 300 runs partnership between Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly changed the course of the match. Sourav Ganguly scored 239 and Yuvraj scored 169.
The match was drawn. Yuvraj played only 40 tests in his career.
10. 2011 World Cup - Man of the series
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In the 2011 WC, Yuvraj had built his image as a batsman who can win the match singlehandedly.
He produced an all-round performance for India as he scored four fifty and one hundred in the historic World Cup victory for India after 28 years.
With the ball in hand, he took 16 wickets. Yuvraj performance won him the Man of Series award.
(Image: Twitter)
