5 Performances Of Yuvraj Singh That Changed Indian Cricket Forever

Natwest Tri-Series in England, 2002

Yuvraj Singh's importance in the Indian team came to the fore during 2002's Natwest Tri-Series in England.

The 2002 Natwest Tri-Series in England was just the tournament Yuvraj Singh needed to showcase his consistency at the highest level. After a seesaw graph during his first couple of years, all eyes were on India's youngsters that also included Zaheer Khan, Mohammad Kaif, Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra.

In India's first match at Lord's, captain Sourav Ganguly was in a mess as none of his main bowlers could penetrate in the first half of England's innings.

England were in a comfortable position at 201 for 2 in the 34th over, when three quick wickets from Yuvraj helped India pull England's total way below 300. With the bat, India got off to a decent start. But when India's skipper got out, India needed 131 at run-a-ball with six wickets in hand.

Yuvraj gave the perfect support to vice-captain Rahul Dravid, who looked to rebuild India's innings. The required run rate peaked during the last five overs, and that is when Yuvraj's attacking strokeplay came to the team's rescue.

Playing his first ever match in England, Yuvraj looked at ease even as England's bowlers managed to find some swing in overcast conditions. An unbeaten 64 off 65 helped India secure four points as they won the match with seven balls to spare.

In India's next game against Sri Lanka, Yuvraj's 31 was among many double figure scores by the Indian batsmen, who finally managed to comfortably chase a small target of 203. His unbeaten 19-ball 40 in a rain-marred encounter against England helped him build more experience and momentum as Darren Gough was back in the English attack. He affected three dismissals in the field and yet again managed a 37 while chasing a low total in India's second match against Sri Lanka during the tournament.

While he took a wicket and a catch, he got his first real bad game with the bat at the Oval, when India were chasing a target of 230 in just 32 overs in a rain-reduced match against the home team.

His performance in India's last league game - against Sri Lanka - was not too impressive either, even as he affected dismissals with the ball and in the field. India were yet to face their toughest challenge during the tournament final at Lord's.

Batting first, England looked to attack from the onset as the Indian bowlers struggled to find any help from the wicket. Marcus Trescothick and England's captain Nasser Hussain scored centuries, helping their team post 325 for 6.

The highest ODI score chased down at that time was 330, just a few months ago by Australia against South Africa. Such a big score was not and has not been chased till date in any tournament final.

Batting at the home of cricket and his favourite ground where he scored a century on Test debut, captain Ganguly counter attacked in the final of what had been a rather ordinary tournament for him with the bat. He made room outside the off-stump and came down the wicket to all the seamers, a strategy that worked. Virender Sehwag had a good time at the other end too, scoring 20 off one Ronny Irani over.

Though India surpassed 100 without losing a wicket scoring at over 7 runs an over, their dream start was soon countered by wickets left, right and center. Most of the Indian batsmen - including Ganguly, Sehwag, Dravid and even Sachin - got out trying to play shots.

When Sachin got out on the last ball of the 24th over to leave India reeling at 146 for five, half the nation - including many of the player's own families back at home - switched off their television sets.

India had lost their top five and needing 180 runs at almost seven runs an over with two new batsmen at the crease was clearly asking for too much. Yuvraj and his Under-19 World Cup winning captain Mohammad Kaif - playing only his 14th ODI innings - had other plans.

The duo were clearly not only playing for a place in the side, and decided to give it a go. While Kaif still started cautiously, Yuvraj dispatched every loose ball - sweeping Ashley Giles for a huge six over mid-wicket.

Just like his captain, Yuvraj did not hold back against Andrew Flintoff and scored most of the runs against his bowling. After a 121-run partnership, Yuvraj got out for 69 trying to paddle sweep Paul Collingwood after hitting nine fours and a sixer.

Mohammad Kaif played an innings of a lifetime and ensured a tense two-wicket victory for India - scoring 87 not out.

Though the Indian men's team has never lost a final at Lord's till date, this victory was a rare bright light among a string of around twenty losses in tournament finals for India during the first half of that decade. The importance of this victory over a country that tormented them for ages, was emphasized by the captain taking off his shirt and swearing at the Lord's balcony.

Yuvraj was the third-highest run scorer in the entire tournament with 254 runs at an average of over 50. He was also India's third highest wicket taker with five wickets at an average of 21.20 and affected many dismissals in the field.

How it changed Indian cricket:

Sourav Ganguly's act of taking off his shirt and swearing at the balcony of the most famous dressing room in all of cricket was nothing less than a statement. It showed the hunger of a team to win big cricket tournaments and that the captain treated the nation's expectations as his own.

This victory proved that any total could be chased in one-day cricket, and was followed by many bigger chases in the years to come.

This victory also proved that India could win multilateral tournaments abroad, as India had only won two such tournaments outside Asia till that point. The victory also proved that matches could be won from any position, even under enormous pressure. But only when you have players as sincere and committed as Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif to do the job.

India became the best side in the world after Australia and retained that position for a period of over two years. India scaled unprecedented heights in many important Test and ODI tournaments that followed.