Cricket World Cup History: India’s golden moments in the World Cup

#8 Yuvraj Singh’s four man-of-the-match, and player-of-the-tournament, awards in 2011

Yuvraj Singh's performance powered India to the World Cup triumph in 2011

From the horrors of the 2007 World Cup, a resolute Indian team rose, with eyes set on the crown, and a Yuvraj Singh, who destined to be king. Many saw the opening faceoff with Bangladesh in 2011 as a reprisal for the humiliation four years earlier.

Virender Sehwag (175) and young Virat Kohli (100 not out) ensured that India hit up 370 for four. Yuvraj did not get a hit, and his 7 overs were wicketless.

With Sachin Tendulkar in imperious form against England, Yuvraj joined the little master at 180 for two. They added 56 in 9.4 overs. Tendulkar left after scoring a tremendous 120. Yuvraj and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept up the momentum. Yuvraj’s fifty came off 46 deliveries. He was holed out for 58, having faced 50 balls and struck 9 boundaries. India were bowled out for 338 with one delivery still remaining. Andrew Strauss led from the front with a superb 158. The match was tied.

Yuvraj struck with the ball against Ireland. He had Andrew White caught behind by Dhoni, and got Kevin O’Brien to hit back a catch. Porterfield slammed him into the hands of Harbhajan Singh. Bowling his stint of 10 overs unchanged, Yuvraj trapped John Mooney and Alex Cusack lbw. He bagged five for 31. Ireland were dismissed for 207.

India were in some strife at 87 for three when Yuvraj strode in. Kohli was run out soon. Dhoni helped Yuvraj add 67. In alliance with a belligerent Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj took India home by five wickets with 4 overs to spare. He finished with an exact 50, the first to bag five wickets and score a half-century in a World Cup match. His runs came off 75 balls and he struck 3 boundaries. The man-of-the-match award was rightfully his.

The Dutch teased a bit. Yuvraj trapped Wesley Barresi leg-before to wrest his 100th wicket in One-day Internationals. He deceived the accomplished Ryan ten Doeschate, and Zaheer Khan brought off a fine catch. Yuvraj bagged two for 43 off 9 overs. The Netherlands team was dismissed for 189.

Pieter Seelaar struck thrice as a complacent India lost quick wickets. Yuvraj sauntered in at 99 for four. He added 40 with Gautam Gambhir. Then 'Captain Cool', MS Dhoni arrived, and the pair coasted. Yuvraj hit the winning boundary, raising his own fifty as well as that of the partnership. He was unbeaten with 51, achieved off 73 deliveries and embellished with 7 boundaries. It was his third consecutive half-century and second successive man-of-the-match prize, another in a series of finishing efforts with unconquered fifties.

Powered by Tendulkar’s 99th International hundred, India were sailing against South Africa. Once the maestro departed, the hosts collapsed from 267 for one in 39.4 overs to 296 all out in 48.4 overs, rocked by a five-wicket haul by the fiery Dale Steyn. Yuvraj fell for 12 and was unable to pick up a wicket in his 8 overs, conceding 47 runs. In a nail-biting finish, South Africa won with 2 balls to spare and three wickets in hand.

India regrouped in their last league match versus West Indies. Batting no.4 in the absence of Sehwag, Yuvraj settled into a long association with Kohli. The century partnership came simultaneously with Kohli’s half-century. Dhoni assisted in a partnership of 45. Yuvraj raised his hundred off 112 balls.

He was caught and bowled by Kieron Pollard for a magnificent 113, his lone hundred in the World Cup. The 123-ball knock comprised 10 fours and 2 sixes. India were bowled out for 268 inside 50 overs.

Yuvraj had Devon Thomas stumped by Dhoni, and Andre Russell caught by Yusuf Pathan. His two wickets cost 18 runs in 4 overs. West Indies crumbled to 188 all out. Yuvraj wrested another man-of-the-match award.

A vintage hundred by Ricky Ponting spurred Australia to 260 for six. Yuvraj broke Ponting’s 70-run 2nd wicket stand with Brad Haddin. He had Haddin taken by Suresh Raina and got Michael Clarke top-edging to Zaheer Khan. Yuvraj’s two wickets cost 44 runs in 10 overs.

A half-century by Tendulkar set India on their way. Gambhir brought up his fifty but was run out. When Suresh Raina joined Yuvraj there were 74 runs needed off 12.3 overs with five wickets left. Yuvraj reached his fifty in 54 balls. India were home with 2.2 overs to spare.

Again Yuvraj had carried out a gallant finishing job. His unbeaten 57 off 65 deliveries was embellished with 8 boundaries. Yuvraj won another successive man-of-the-match prize, his fourth of the tournament, equalling the feats of Aravinda de Silva (1996) and Lance Klusener (1999).

Tendulkar battled the Pakistani bowlers on a tricky Mohali semi-final wicket. Yuvraj was yorked first ball by the left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz. India totalled 260 for nine.

Yuvraj straighter one crashed into Asad Shafiq’s middle stump. He deceived Younis Khan, inducing a spooned drive to Raina. Pakistan were 106 for four in 25.4 overs. They were bowled out for 231. Yuvraj’s two wickets cost 57 runs in 10 overs. India won by 29 runs.

In the final at Mumbai. Yuvraj's quicker one had Kumar Sangakkara edging to Dhoni. He trapped Thilan Samaraweera leg-before. Mahela Jayawardene scored a classy century, helping Sri Lanka hoist 274 for six.

Yuvraj Singh played a stellar role with bat and ball in the 2011 ICC World Cup.

Dhoni's 119-run alliance with Gambhir (97) carried India to 223 for four. There were 52 runs required from 8.4 overs. Dhoni's winning hit sailed for a huge six over long-on with 10 balls in hand. It was a dazzling 91 not out from Dhoni. Again Yuvraj returned unbeaten in triumph with 21 runs off 24 balls.

Yuvraj was player-of-the-tournament. He tallied 362 runs at an average of 90.50 and strike-rate of 86.19, with a hundred and 4 fifties. This was complemented by 15 wickets at 25.13 apiece and economy-rate of 5.02, including a five-wicket haul. The 3 catches rounded off a magnificent contribution.