Reminiscing 5 of the most destructive innings by an Indian in the last decade

#1 Yuvraj Singh – 58 runs from 16 balls (T20I) vs England, Durban 2007

Individual brilliance come and go. But this innings from Yuvraj may not ever be matched. And without doubt, it holds the top position among the most destructive innings by an Indian in the 21st century. Who else has the audacity to hit a frontline bowler of an opposition like England for 6 sixes in an over?

Batting might have become easier these days. Runs might flow like cash in this era of T20. But it is nigh impossible to replicate an innings of this standards. An innings of such brutality and brawn.

In a must-win encounter for India in the inaugural World T20 tournament, Yuvraj Singh walked in to bat at 155 for 3 wickets in 16.4 overs. With newly appointed captain M.S. Dhoni at the other end, it was completely on the duo to help their team put up a competitive score.

Yuvraj Singh was batting on 14 runs when Stuart Broad was asked to bowl the 19th over. However, just before the start of the over the left-handed batsman had an altercation with English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, which looked to have infuriated Yuvi. What followed thereafter is history.

It started with a 102 metre six over the cow corner as it signalled the first of many. The next ball bowled disappeared beyond backward square leg. The third was heaved over extra cover which was followed by one over backward point. He didn’t stop there as he pasted Broad with two more off his last 2 deliveries, one over midwicket, the other over long on.

He raced to his 50 off an unbelievable 12 deliveries, thereby being the quickest in the world to reach a half century, a record that still holds today. He finished with 58 from 16 balls, at a staggering strike rate of 362.5 which included 7 sixes in total. In the end, India won by 18 runs as they kept their campaign alive.

Several match winning innings have materialized after that, but this remains the greatest exhibition of power hitting in the modern world of cricket.