India’s Yuvraj Singh is all set to play in his 300th one-day international (ODI) match against Bangladesh on Thursday.
Here, we have a look at five of his most memorable performances in the format.
ANNOUNCING HIMSELF ON THE BIG STAGE
Playing in just his second international match, Yuvraj announced himself on the world stage in some style as he produced a Man of the Match performance against world champions Australia. In fact, this was his first innings in ODIs as he didn’t get to bat in his first outing against Kenya.
Arriving at the crease with India’s score reading 90-3, Yuvraj produced an attacking knock which put the Men in Blue firmly on the front foot. He would score 84 from just 80 deliveries in an innings which included as many as 12 fours.
Later in the game, Yuvraj completed a stunning catch and then a run-out with a direct hit as India won the match by 20 runs.
HEROICS WITH KAIF AT LORD’S
Chasing a massive target of 326, India were reduced to 146-5 despite a century-stand for the first wicket between Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag.
That was when Yuvraj and Mohammad Kaif joined hands and put together one of India’s most memorable partnerships. The duo added 121 runs in just 106 deliveries as the Ganguly-led side went from being on the verge of defeat to a position from where they had a chance.
Yuvraj was dismissed for a 63-ball 69, but Kaif was on hand to guide India home with an unbeaten 87.
BRILLIANCE DOWN UNDER
Laxman and Yuvraj against Australia [Getty Images]
One of Yuvraj’s best-ever knocks in ODIs came in a game against a strong Australian team at Sydney in early 2004.
Coming into bat after India had lost three wickets with just 80 on the board, the left-handed batsman formed a magnificent 213-run partnership with VVS Laxman which is still a record for any Indian partnership in a 50-over game against Australia.
Both batsmen notched up centuries, with Yuvraj scoring 139 from 122 deliveries while Laxman remained unbeaten on 106.
Yuvraj’s knock was so good that despite India losing the game via the Duckworth-Lewis Method, he was named as the Player of the Match.
ON THE TOP OF THE WORLD
One thing that Indian fans yearned for was a victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup, something that had eluded them since 1983.
Going into the 2011 edition of the tournament, hopes were high as India were one of the hosts and had a team capable of going all the way.
There were some question marks raised about Yuvraj’s form heading into the World Cup, but once the competition got under way, the Punjab cricketer was the most impressive player on show.
Be it with bat or ball, Yuvraj was at his best. In nine matches, he scored 362 runs at an average of 90.50 and took 15 wickets at 25.13 apiece. It was no surprise then, that he was named as the Player of the Tournament.
THE 2017 COMEBACK
Yuvraj celebrates his century against England [Sportzpics]
Yuvraj has made a few comebacks in his career and the latest one was when he returned to the Indian ODI team after a gap of more than three years in January 2017.
His comeback was a successful one as just in his second match back, he managed to notch up his highest ever score in ODI cricket – scoring 150 against England at Cuttack.
It was a vintage Yuvraj in action as he struck 21 fours and three sixes in a brilliant counter-attacking partnership alongside MS Dhoni after India were reduced to 25-3. The duo added a 256-run partnership with Dhoni also scoring a century.