India’s 2011 World Cup star Yuvraj Singh has decided to draw the curtains on his international career, announcing the decision at a press conference in Mumbai on Monday.
The southpaw was last seen on a cricket field when he played the IPL for the Mumbai Indians this April, before he was dropped after four matches.
But to remember his career by the lows of the last few IPLs wouldn't be correct as Yuvraj Singh has achieved a lot more in his career, including the Man of Series award at the 2011 ICC World Cup.
Here’s a look at five times Yuvraj Singh made a comeback to the Indian team.
1. 2011 World Cup
Yuvraj Singh was dropped from the ODI side for the first time in 10 years ahead of the Asia Cup in 2010. He made a comeback in the triangular series later in the year, but couldn’t find his feet in the tournament.
He ended the year with a dismal five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Poor form carried on even at the start of 2011, when India toured South Africa for a five-match ODI series.
But when the World Cup arrived, Yuvraj completely transformed himself. He notched four fifties and one century in the tournament and also picked up 15 wickets.
And to top it all, India won their second World Cup title that year.
2. Recovering From Lung Cancer
Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with lung cancer in February 2012 and the doctors said that while he had a 95 percent chance of recovery, the chances of him playing cricket again, wasn’t even in the radar.
But Yuvraj fought hard and not only recovered from cancer but made a comeback to the Indian team in the second T20 against New Zealand in September 2012.
He smashed 34 runs off 26 balls and almost took India to victory.
3. T20 Series vs Australia, 2016
After making a comeback after his battle with cancer, Yuvraj kept moving in and out of the Indian side until the World T20 in 2014. After almost two years, Yuvraj Singh was recalled to the Indian T20 side for the three-match series against Australia.
He didn’t get to bat in the first two matches, but he was given the task of finishing the match in the final ODI.
17 runs were required off the last over. And the star batsman smacked a four and a six off Andrew Tye in the first two balls of the over.
Later, Suresh Raina wrapped up the match with a boundary and India won the match by seven wickets.
4. ODI Series vs England, 2017
The Punjab lad fizzled out again after the World T20 in 2016. He couldn’t make a mark and the selectors lost faith in him yet again. But the left-hand batsman was chosen for the Indian team again in 2017.
Yuvraj made a comeback in the first ODI against England at Pune on Sunday with a low score of 15, but he smashed one six in that innings which reminded all of us of the ‘young’ Yuvraj that we knew.
And in the second ODI, Yuvraj proved that he is still capable of playing international cricket after he recorded his career best score of 150.
5. Test Series vs Pakistan, 2007
Yuvraj Singh was left out of the Test side in 2006 after going through six Test matches without a fifty. He was also struggling with injuries during that time.
But when he came back into the Test side almost one and a half years later in 2007, Yuvraj smashed his Test career best score of 169 in the third Test against Pakistan.
Guess we can never write off Yuvraj Singh, can we?
(This article was first published on 20 January 2017 and has been reposted from The Quint’s archives for Yuvraj Singh’s birthday.)
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