WCL 2024: Yuvraj Singh turns back clock with fiery 59 in semi-final vs Australia
Legendary India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh turned the clock back in time as he continued with his habit of taking down Australia in the knockout fixtures.
The 42-year-old played a breathtaking innings of 59 off just 28 balls during the second semi-final of the World Championship of Legends on Friday, July 12 at County Ground, Northampton.
Yuvraj smashed four fours and five sixes during his knock as he propelled the India champions to a massive score of 254/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Apart from him, Robin Uthappa got the team off to a terrific start with his innings of 65 (35). The brother duo of Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan gave the perfect finish to the innings with their massive 95-run stand off just 35 balls.
Yusuf scored an unbeaten 51* off 23 balls while Irfan scored 50 off just 19 balls as India champions flexed their batting muscles. Captain Yuvraj once again continued with his habit of taking down Australia in the knockout stages even after his retirement.
Yuvraj’s love affair with Australia
Notably, Yuvraj played a match-winning knock in his first ever international innings, scoring 84 (80) against Australia in the quarter-final of ICC Knockout cup (now known as the Champions Trophy). Courtesy of his innings, India were able to knock out the invincible Aussies with a 20-run win.
Seven years later, Yuvraj played the best innings of his T20I career against Australia during the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2007. The Chandigarh-born cricketer played a scintillating innings of 70 (30) which eventually helped India beat the World Champions and knock them out of the competition.
Later, during the 2011 ODI World Cup, Yuvraj played another match-winning innings against Australia in the quarter-final of the tournament. The southpaw scored an unbeaten 57* (65) and helped India chase down 261 with 14 balls to knockout Australia which also ended their 12-year-long dominance in the World Cup. Yuvraj also picked up 2/44 with the ball and deservedly won the Player of the Match award.