Yuvraj Singh is a legendary Indian cricketer known for his explosive batting, athletic fielding, and left-arm spin bowling. Born on December 12, 1981, in Chandigarh, India, Yuvraj started playing cricket at the age of six and soon became one of the most talented young cricketers in the country. Today we are discussing the biography of Yuvraj Singh.
Yuvraj Singh was born into a family of cricketers. His father, Yograj Singh, was a former Indian cricketer and his mother, Shabnam Singh, was a homemaker. Yuvraj grew up playing cricket with his older brother, Zorawar Singh, who also played domestic cricket.
Yuvraj made his debut for the Indian Under-19 team in 1996 and was part of the squad that won the Under-19 World Cup in 2000. He made his international debut for India in 2000 against Kenya in an ODI match. Yuvraj’s breakthrough performance came in the 2002 NatWest Series final against England, where he scored a match-winning 69 off 63 balls and helped India win the tournament.
International Career
Yuvraj Singh’s international career spanned over 17 years, during which he played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs, and 58 T20Is for India. He was a crucial member of the Indian team that won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. He was named the Player of the Tournament in both these events for his all-round performances.
In the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, Yuvraj made history by hitting six sixes in an over off England’s Stuart Broad. This feat is still remembered as one of the greatest moments in cricket history.
Yuvraj’s ODI career was filled with memorable moments, including his back-to-back centuries in the 2011 World Cup against Ireland and the Netherlands. He also played a vital role in India’s victory in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, scoring 21 runs and taking two crucial wickets.
Yuvraj’s battle with cancer
In 2011, Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with a rare germ cell cancer called mediastinal seminoma. He underwent chemotherapy treatment in the United States and returned to cricket in 2012. He made a remarkable comeback in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, where he scored 11 runs off just 21 balls in the final against Sri Lanka, despite suffering from a respiratory infection.
Retirement
Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from international cricket in June 2019, ending a glorious career that spanned almost two decades. He finished with over 11,000 runs and 148 wickets in international cricket. He also won numerous awards, including the Arjuna Award, the Padma Shri, and the ICC ODI Player of the Year award.
Beyond Cricket
Yuvraj Singh is also known for his philanthropic work. He founded the YouWeCan Foundation, which aims to support cancer patients and survivors. He also established the Yuvraj Singh Centre of Excellence in 2008, which provides world-class training facilities for young cricketers.
Controversies
Yuvraj Singh, the legendary Indian cricketer, has had his fair share of controversies throughout his career. Here are some notable ones:
- The Flintoff incident: In the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, Yuvraj and England’s Andrew Flintoff were involved in a heated exchange after Yuvraj hit a six off Flintoff. Yuvraj responded with a series of boundaries off the next few balls and famously gestured to the crowd after hitting the last one. This incident caused a stir in the media, with some criticizing Yuvraj for his behavior.
- The brawl with Shahid Afridi: In a 2010 ODI between India and Pakistan, Yuvraj and Pakistani player Shahid Afridi were involved in a heated argument that escalated into a physical altercation. Both players were fined for their behavior, and the incident caused tensions between the two teams.
- The alleged doping case: In 2012, Yuvraj was accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs during his cancer treatment. However, he vehemently denied the allegations and was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.
- The father’s statement on Dhoni: In 2019, Yuvraj’s father, Yograj Singh, made controversial statements about former Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni, accusing him of unfairly sidelining Yuvraj from the team. Yuvraj later distanced himself from his father’s comments and clarified that he had a good relationship with Dhoni.
Despite these controversies, Yuvraj Singh’s contributions to Indian cricket remain significant, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in Indian cricket history.
Achievements
Yuvraj Singh, a former Indian cricketer, has numerous achievements to his name. Here are some of his most notable achievements:
- Played for the Indian cricket team from 2000 to 2019, including being part of the team that won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
- Scored 8,701 runs and took 111 wickets in 304 ODIs, with a batting average of 36.55 and a bowling average of 38.68.
- Scored 1,900 runs and took 9 wickets in 40 Test matches, with a batting average of 33.92 and a bowling average of 61.00.
- Scored 1,177 runs and took 28 wickets in 58 T20Is, with a batting average of 28.02 and a bowling average of 17.47.
- Became the first player to hit six sixes in an over in a T20I match during the 2007 ICC World Twenty20.
- Received the Player of the Tournament award in both the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
- Awarded the Arjuna Award in 2012 and the Padma Shri in 2014 for his contributions to Indian cricket.
- Established the YouWeCan Foundation to support cancer patients and survivors.
- Founded the Yuvraj Singh Centre of Excellence to provide world-class training facilities for young cricketers.
Conclusion
Yuvraj Singh is a true legend of Indian cricket. He was not only an exceptional cricketer but also a fighter who battled cancer and made a triumphant comeback. He inspired millions of cricket fans around the world with his courage, resilience, and determination. Yuvraj will always be remembered as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of Indian cricket.
