A Tribute to the Prince

Somewhere between Virat Kohli’s marriage and India’s shocking defeat against Sri Lanka, we have crossed Yuvraj Singh’s 36th birthday.

Born in Punjab, he is the son of a former cricketer Yograj Singh. As a child who was interested in roller skating, he won the national U-14 skating championship. His father threw his medal away and pushed him to focus on cricket. The rest as they say is history.

Be it building a strong partnership or bowling those middle overs, he was the go to person for any captain. As a man of the tournament due to his all-round performance during the 2000 U-19 world cup, Yuvi was the obvious pick for the 2000 Champions Trophy. As a young southpaw, he smashed 84 runs from 80 balls during the Quarter finals against Australia, which consisted of bowlers like McGrath, Lee and Gillespie.

He is one of the recognized hard hitting batsman for India. His 6 sixes from a single over is a moment to cherish for the Indian fans. He is one such batsman alongside MS Dhoni, who could dispatch the ball over 100 meters quite often.

His presence in the team also made sure that India didn’t lack a 5th bowler in the squad. His Left arm orthodox spin has occasionally turned the match in favor of his team. He is one of the bowlers to have secured two hattricks in the Indian Premier League.

Besides, his all-round performances, Yuvi is also known for his incredible fielding. Along with Mohammed Kaif, the duo formed a deadly fielding combination for the Indians. Those catches in Gully and the direct hits from the inner circle are a treat to watch.He has always played a vital role in big stages such as 2007 T20 tournament and 2011 World Cup.

“Fighting hard and never giving up” is Yuvi’s motto. He is a player who has overthrown cancer. His cancer symptoms like blood vomiting has never stopped him from scoring a century against West Indies during a crucial encounter in 2011 world cup.

Having played more than 300 One Day Internationals, Yuvi is currently struggling to find a place in the Indian squad. But his comebacks are more stronger. As a player who has overthrown cancer, we can hope for one good come back from him. Happy Birthday Yuvi!

On account of his birthday, enjoy this one handed catch that turned the tables for India.