3 Cricketers who bagged Man of the Match award on their birthdays

Birthday is a special day for any individual. Everyone desires to make it a day worth remembering. Likewise, cricketers too want to make it special and unlike any other day, they are expected to put in that extra effort in the game. They are expected to shine that particular day and the players like it too. However, some deliver, some don't.

In this list, let us have a look at those players who played exceptionally well on their birthdays: exceptional enough to win the Man of the Match award on their birthdays.

---

Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj played a scintillating knock on his birthday

Date: 12/12/2009

On his 28th birthday, Yuvraj's all-round performance rattled Sri Lanka. Going into the match, Indians were trailing by 0-1 in the 2 match T20 series. India needed a win to draw the series, and there was no one better than Yuvraj who rose to the occasion to give India the much-needed win.

Batting first, Sri Lanka lost Dilshan early, but an 81 runs stand between Sanath Jayasuriya and Sangakkara brought the Sri Lankan innings back on track.

Despite Yuvraj's 3 wicket haul, Sri Lanka managed to score 206-7. Captain Sangakkara scored a quick-fire fifty. Jayasinghe and Mathews chipped in with some handy knocks.

Those were the early days of T20 cricket and chasing anything above 200 was always going to be tough. But that night belonged to Yuvraj Singh.

Yuvraj arrived at the crease at the fall of Sehwag's wicket when the score was 108-2 after 11 overs. With 99 required of the final 9 overs, the required rate being 11 runs per over, he stitched an 80 runs partnership with Dhoni.

Yuvraj was looking great and was timing the ball well. He was magnificent and the Sri Lankan bowlers did not have any answers to his onslaught.

Although Dhoni departed on the brink of the win, Yuvraj stayed till the end and took the team over the finish line. He faced 25 deliveries, scoring 60 runs at a strike rate of 240. His innings comprised of 3 fours and 5 sixes.

He was adjudged Man of the Match for his all-round performance on his birthday. The match was played at his home ground which made it even more special.

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan produced a match-winning performance on his 20th birthday

Date: 20/09/2018

On his 20th birthday, Rashid's brilliant all-round performance proved crucial as Afghanistan hammered Bangladesh by a massive 136 runs margin in a group match of Asia Cup 2018.

Rashid showed brilliant display of counter-attacking batting en route his third ODI fifty. He scored 57 runs off 32 balls when his team was struggling at 160-7. He shared an unbeaten 95 runs stand with Gulbadin Naib to take the score to 255-7.

He later returned to take the wickets of Shakib-Al-Hasan and Mahmadullah. He returned with excellent bowling figures of bowled 9-2-13-2.

He won the Man of the Match Award on his birthday.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin was at his usual best in the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup final

Date: 24/12/1998

Having lost all their previous fixtures in the tournament against Australia, Team India were once again set to fight Australia for the title in the finals.

Sachin Tendulkar was in sublime form in the tournament and had played a pivotal role in taking the team to the finals. He was a key factor for India in the finals too.

Batting first, Aussies scored 272-9 in their allotted 50 overs. Chasing 273 against the mighty Aussies was really a challenging task, and who other than Tendulkar would have savoured such a challenge?

Sachin displayed a brilliant piece of artistic batsmanship and unleashed some breathtaking shots. He spared none of the Australian bowlers and scored a splendid 134 off 131 deliveries. He smashed 12 fours and 3 sixes in the process.

He did not stay till the end but ensured that the team was on its way to victory.

India won the finals by six wickets. Sachin was adjudged Man of the Match for his exemplary performance. With 434 runs to his name, he was the highest run-getter in the tournament. He was the Man of the Series too.