IPL Auctions 2014: Five magical T20 innings that justify Yuvraj Singh's massive bid

58 of 16 balls, India vs. England, 21st Match, Group E: ICC T-20 2007

This was where it all began. This game has entered cricket folklore and continues to be one of the high-points of India’s cricketing history. The symbolic significance of this game cannot be over stressed. This was the year when India suffered an embarrassing exit from the ODI World Cup in the group stage after they lost a critical match to Bangladesh.

Yuvraj Singh smashing Stuart Broad over the fence

India came to the inaugural tournament without the mainstays of the Indian side of the last decade: Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. The young side led by MS Dhoni represented a sea-change in mentality, greater self-belief and a never-say-die attitude which was best embodied by Yuvraj Singh.

The context of that knock makes it even more special. The swash-buckling batsman was involved in a heated exchange of words with Andrew Flintoff who was evidently trying to get under the skin of the southpaw to unnerve him.

Yuvraj responded magnificently in the very next over smashing Stuard Broad all round the park, pulling out every stroke in the book and providing that final impetus that turned an ordinary score into a match-winning one. That knock epitomized the turn-around that happened in Indian cricket that consummated with India’s world cup victory in 2011.

49 of 16 balls, Kings XI Punjab vs. Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2008

It would be unfair not to include an IPL performance in this list and hence I have chosen this one even though I am aware of the fact that the player hasn’t shared his best with the tournament yet but that is bound to change soon.

Yuvraj led the Punjab franchisee in the opening season and took them to the semi-finals, the selected match being the final group match and the last hurdle that they had to cross in the process. His side put up an immense performance as Shaun Marsh stacked yet another ton in the tournament and Yuvraj capitalized on that.

This innings is crucial also because this might be the kind of role that Yuvraj may have to occupy in the Royal Challengers Bangalore side playing at number 4. The past is witness to the fact that Bangalore have been a top-heavy, batting dominant side. They will require a kind of final push in the last overs that ensures that the innings does not fizzle out after a splendid start.

Yuvraj walked in to bat at 133/1 in the 14th over of the game and played second fiddle to Shaun Marsh knocking the ball about as Marsh went about his business and took over as soon as the death overs began. The match was lit up by Yuvraj’s big-hitting prowess as he smashed six massive sixes to take his team to a massive match-winning total of 221.

A special mention is deserved by Yuvraj’s all-round abilities that shone through in the 2009 edition of the Indian Premier league when he took two hat-tricks one of them being against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

77* of 35 balls, India vs. Australia, Only T-20, Australia’s tour of India 2013/14

This being the most recent exploit of the southpaw was a critical innings for his International career as Yuvraj was making a comeback from a lengthy spell out of the national side. He was forced to walk into a cauldron as India were reeling while chasing a massive total of 202.

India struggled to keep pace with the scoring rate and lost crucial wickets at critical stages of the game. Tottering at 80/3, Yuvraj Singh joined hands with Virat Kohli but India’s new-found hero soon left the company of Yuvraj. He was not at his fluent best in the initial part of the game but gained in confidence with every stroke that he played and eventually thrived in company of his captain.

He consciously played with a straight bat, targeting the smaller straight boundary and ensuring that India kept pace with the target. He finished off the game with two balls to spare and proved his worth as a quality finisher in the format once again.

India still lack a force like him at number 4 and even though he has failed to live upto his reputation since this knock, he might get another opportunity prior to the 2015 World cup and he can make a case for himself at the Indian Premier League in a new environment.