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Yuvraj Singh would definitely be the first superstar of Indian Cricket in the 21st century. The forgotten legend of Indian Cricket is still counted among the best left-handed batsmen that the world of cricket has ever encountered. In his prime time, Yuvraj could hit the ball coming at him as clean and far that anybody could imagine. He used to do it all with so much ease and flamboyance that bowlers always wanted to avoid bowling to ‘the six-king’ of India. In this blog, we will explore the life of cricketer Yuvraj Singh, his career, achievements, awards, wife, net worth and much more.
Starting his career in cricket from a young age, Yuvraj has performed at the highest level for the better part of his life. He was always the X-Factor in the Indian Squad, taking crucial wickets and scoring match-winning innings whenever needed the most. Known for his dedication, the man has even fought cancer and came back like a champion to serve the national cricket team.
Yuvraj Singh Bio
| Name | Yuvraj Singh |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Yuvraj Singh |
| Date of Birth | December 12, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Chandigarh, Punjab, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) |
| Role | All-rounder |
| Batting Style | Left-handed |
| Bowling Style | Left-arm orthodox spin |
| International Debut | ODI: October 3, 2000 |
| Test: October 16, 2003 | |
| T20I: September 13, 2007 | |
| Teams Played For (IPL) | India, Kings XI Punjab |
| Major Achievements | – Played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup |
| – Scored the fastest fifty in T20I history (12 balls) against England in 2007 | |
| – Became the first player to hit six sixes in an over in a T20I match during the 2007 World Twenty20 | |
| – Recipient of the Player of the Tournament award in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup | |
| – Notable for his aggressive batting style and brilliant fielding abilities | |
| Retirement | Announced retirement from international cricket in 2019 |
| Retired from all forms of cricket in 2019 |
Yuvraj Singh Biography
Born to former cricketer Yograj Singh and Shabnam Singh, Yuvraj Singh started his career of sports with Roller Skating and Tennis. He was really good at skating which helped him to win the National U-14 Roller Skating Championship as a 10-year-old.
The active kid had early popularity also due to his acting skills. Yuvi has acted in 2 Punjabi films named Putt Sardara and Mehndi Sajna Di. He hailed from the DAV Public School in Chandigarh which was also the school of another great Indian Cricket legend .
Yuvraj Singh Career
Yuvraj was sent to Mumbai by his father to train at the Elf-Vengsarkar Cricket Academy. His strenuous training and hard work paid off when he was selected in the U-19 Punjab State Team. An ambitious Yuvraj then worked harder and made it to the U-19 Indian cricket team.
Domestic Career
Yuvraj Singh’s first-class debut for Punjab against Orissa in the 1997-98 Ranji season. He was dismissed for a duck on his opening innings. In the U-19 Coach Behar Trophy final, Yuvi scored 358 against Punjab against Bihar. The whole Bihar team together scored 357.
In the 1999-00 Ranji Trophy season, Singh scored brilliant innings of 149 against Haryana. His good performances saw him picked for India U19 against Sri Lanka in February 1999. In 2000, Yuvraj was selected to play in the India U19 team at the U19 ICC Cricket Cup, Sri Lanka.
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Yuvraj scored 203 runs in 8 matches at an average of 33.83 and a strike rate of 103.57. In the semi-final against Australia U19, Yuvi scored 58 as he powered India 284. He followed it up with 27 of 40 balls as Boys in Blue beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to lift their maiden U19 World Cup.
With the ball, Yuvraj picked 12 wickets in 5 matches at an average of 11.50 and an economy of 3.39. His best bowling performance in the tournament (4/15) came against Nepal U19 in the group stage. On the field, Yuvraj took 4 catches in 8 matches. His all-around performance ensured the wonder boy from Punjab won the Man of the Tournament.
ODI Career
With the dawn of a new era in Indian Cricket under the captaincy of another legendary left-handed batsman, Sourav Ganguly, youngsters like Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif got the opportunity to wear the blue colour and represent the senior team.
Yuvraj Singh made his ODI debut on 3rd October 2000 in the ICC KnockOut Trophy against Kenya. The first-timer did not produce any notable performances in the beginning.
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But the 19-year-old showed his intent to perform under pressure scoring 84 off 80 balls in the quarter-finals against Australia. The then world champions contained the likes of Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, and Glen McGrath.
After mixed performances in the 2000-01 season, both domestic and international, Yuvi returned with strong outings in the NatWest Series. The series featured 3 teams- India, England and Sri Lanka.
Yuvraj’s all-round performance of 3/39 and 64* won the man of the match in the first match at Lords. In the next match against the Lankans, Yuvraj scored 31 runs and built a crucial partnership with Mohammed Kaif. The left-handed allrounder continued to show amazing performances including the final.
Yuvraj came to bat at 146/5 after 24 overs, with 325 runs to chase. Impossible right! Yuvi and Kaif built a steady partnership and went on to win the match with 3 balls to spare. Yuvraj scored 69 of 63 balls in a win regarded as the Men in Blue’s greatest ODI victories. He then went on to become one of India’s indisposable middle-order batsmen until 2011.
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After his inspiring return from defeating cancer, Yuvi was not able to regain his position in the Indian team. After missing out the ODI format for 4 years between 2013 to 2017, Yuvi made a blockbuster return.
He scored 150 against England in the second game after returning. However, he played his last ODI months later in June against the West Indies, scoring 37.
ICC Cricket World Cup
Yuvraj Singh has played in three world cups for India – 2003, 2007 and 2011. In 2003, WC, Yuvi’s performances in India’s matches against England (42), Pakistan (50*), and Kenya (58*) helped India reach the finals. With the ball, he picked 5 wickets in the 5 matches he bowled.
In 2007, Yuvaraj hit his peak form. However, while he was able to help India win the T20 World Championships, he would have been disappointed that he was not able to do the same in the World Cup.
In the three matches, Yuvraj scored 136 runs with an average of 45.3. He scored 47 in the shock loss against Bangladesh in the first group game and followed it up with a brilliant 83 against Bermuda. However, Yuvi was unable to help much in the third game as India lost to Sri Lanka and were knocked out of the Carribean.
2011 ICC Cricket World Cup
Yuvraj Singh was on an absolute tear in the 2011 ICC World Cup. He won the man of the match award 4 times in the tournament. He was Mr. consistent whenever the team needed him to chip in some runs or break a partnership taking some crucial wickets. In nine matches, Yuvraj scored 362 runs and took 15 wickets with his slow left-arm spinners to emerge as the man with the golden arm for his country.
Test Career
Yuvraj Singh made his test debut for India in the 2003 New Zealand tour of India. In his first match at Mohali, Yuvi scored 20 and 5*. After a 5-month gap, Yuvraj was selected for the tour to Pakistan. He impressed with the scores of 59,112 and 47 as India went to win the series against their arch-rivals.
Incidentally, all of Yuvraj’s test centuries have come against Pakistan. 2 years after his first century, Yuvi went on to score 122 for a losing cause for the Men in Blue in Lahore. His third century, which is also his highest score in test matches came at Bengaluru in 2007. Yuvi scored 169 in 203 balls as India drew the match and won the series.
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T20 Career
Just like many players, Yuvraj Singh made T20 international debut for India in the T20 WC in South Africa. Yuvraj was not impressive on his first two matches as he scored 1 and 5. He came back with a bashing performance against England with 58 off 16 balls. Yes, this was the meach in which he hit Stuart Broad for six sixes.
He followed it up with another man of the match performance against Australia, scoring 70 in 30 balls. Needless to remind how crucial his performances were as India went on to win the maiden T20 World Championships.
IPL Career
Yuvraj Singh started his Indian Premier League career at Punjab Kings. He was their captain in the first two seasons. In the 2010 IPL season, KXIP came second in the league stage of the tournament but lost their semi-final to the Chennai Super Kings.
Yuvraj Singh took his first T20 hattrick against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on 1 May 2009. 2 weeks later he picked his second hattrick against former franchise Decan Chargers by dismissing Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Symonds, and Venugopal Rao.
In 2011, Yuvraj was purchased by newcomers Pune Warriors and was appointed as their captain. He scored 343 runs at an average of 34.30, including two half-centuries as Pune finished 9th.
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Yuvi made the headlines in the IPL 2014 auctions when he was purchased for Rs 14 crores by the RCB. He had his best IPL season as he scored 376 runs in 14 matches with an average of 34.18 and strike rate of 135.25.
The following season, Delhi Daredevils purchased for Rs 16 crores. After a below-par season with 248 runs with an average of 19.07 and 118.09 strike rate, Yuvi was purchased by the Sunrisers Hyderabad the next season for Rs 7 crores.
He had a successful IPL campaign with the SRH. Yuvi scored 38 runs from 23 balls in the finals and won the IPL title. The 2018 IPL season was the worst as he scored only 64 runs with an average of 12.80 for the KXIP.
Prior to the 2019 season, Mumbai Indians purchased him for ₹ 1 crore. However, Yuvraj did not contribute much in their title-winning season, leading the franchise to release him.
Defeating Cancer
In the shining lights of Wankhede stadium in 2011, when the whole nation was feeling the joy of being Indian, the man of the match’s cancer surfaced. People thought Yuvi might not be seen at all but he rose like a phoenix from the ashes and then return proves the mettle this man possesses.
The experience of going through chemotherapy led him to start his new great initiative “YouWeCan” which helps cancer patients in their treatment.
To rise again to the international level, Yuvi started from the basics again. With his relentless hard work, he led the Punjab Team to begin the second innings of his career. And, then the lightning struck again when Yuvi scored 600 runs in just 5 Ranji matches. He continued the form in the IPLs followed and was the most expensive player in 2014 and 2015.
And, all hell broke loose, when he posted his career’s best total of 150 runs in 127 balls. Every shot he hits now strengthens the belief of cancer patients across the world that life can be normal after the illness. As normal as Yuvraj Singh hitting those nonchalant sixes. Cancer survivors couldn’t have asked for a better brand ambassador.
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Yuvraj Singh Six Sixes
Yuvraj Singh helped India win the first-ever T-20 World Cup after a disappointing ICC World Cup exit. In the process, Yuvraj scored the fastest fifty ever. He did so by smashing 6 sixes in an over. His 12 ball half-century is a record still intact in the record books. Yuvi also scored a 70 off 30 balls against Australia in the semi-finals to help India qualify for the Finals.
Records of Yuvraj Singh
- Hit consecutive six 6s in an over in the T20 format.
- Man of the series in both ICC T20 and ODI World cups.
- Picked up 5 wickets and hit a half-century in a single world cup match.
- Yuvraj is the second Indian cricketer signed by English county Yorkshire after Sachin Tendulkar.
- First all-rounder to score 300 plus runs and to take 15 wickets in a single World Cup.
- First Indian player to cross 100 sixes in Twenty20 Cricket.
Yuvraj Singh Wife
Yuvraj Singh is married to Hazel Keech and is also known by Gurbasant Kaur. Hazel is a British−Mauritian film actress and model born on 28 February 1987 in Essex, England. She has made appearances in various Indian movies and TV shows.
She has appeared in Billa and Bodyguard, a Suzuki advertisement, and a reality television program Bigg Boss 7 in 2013. Yuvraj and Keech were engaged on 12 November 2015. They married a year later on 30 November 2016 in a traditional Sikh marriage ceremony at the Fatehgarh Sahib gurudwara near Chandigarh.
Awards & Achievement
- ICC named Yuvraj Singh the Man of the Tournament in the Cricket World Cup 2011.
- Yuvraj Singh received the Arjuna Award (India’s second-highest Sporting Award) in 2012.
- Yuvi received the Padma Shri Award in 2014.
- The FICCI recognized Yuvraj as the Most Inspiring Sportsperson of the Year Award (2014).
- In August 2018 Power Brands awarded Yuvraj Singh the Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar for being an impact player on the field and off it, for demonstrating humility in greatness, and for leading the charge in the battle against cancer, reinforcing the belief that together, YUWECAN!
Yuvraj Singh Net worth
Yuvraj Singh’s net worth is estimated to be at $35 million or ₹ 250 crores. The left-handed batsman’s majority salary comes from match fees from the BCCI and the IPL.
Yuvraj was one of the highest paid cricketers in IPL. In the 12 seasons that he played in the league, Yuvi earned a total of ₹ 84.60 crores.
Apart from this, Yuvi has earned various brand endorsements and sponsorships like Microsoft (2006), Codemasters’, Puma, Pepsi, Revital, Reebok, Birla Sun Life, Royal Mega Stag, Laureus & Benz, Whirlpool, Cadbury and LG.
He also has written an autobiography called ‘The Test of my Life’, which talks about he battled cancer and made a comeback. Currently, Yuvraj is living in a luxurious flat along with his wife in Worli, Mumbai. The flat is worth ₹60 Crore.
Other than his home, Yuvraj has properties worth ₹45 Crore all across the country. He owns a lot of luxury cars like Audi Q5, BMW 3 Series, Bentley Continental etc. which are worth ₹8 Crore. In 2016, Yuvraj Singh invested in his own fashion-brand called ‘YWC Clothing’. It has earned a lot of positive response in the Indian market and has been successfully making sales on online platforms like Myntra.
Unknown Facts
- Yuvraj was an ardent fan of tennis and roller skating.
- He was so good at his chosen craft, roller skating, and won the National U-14 Roller Skating Championship.
- Yuvraj featured in Punjabi movies as a child actor in Mehndi Sajda Di and Putt Sardara.
- His voice also features in the Bollywood animated film, Jumbo.
- Codemasters’ cricket video game Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 was released as “Yuvraj Singh International Cricket 2007” in India.
- Yuvraj’s autobiography is titled: The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back.
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- After defeating cancer, Yuvi started his NGO YouWeCan. YouWeCan has treated hundreds of cancer patients.
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FAQs
Yuvraj Singh played a crucial role in India’s victories in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. He also holds the record for hitting the fastest fifty in T20I history and being the first player to hit six sixes in an over in a T20I match.
Yuvraj Singh is known for his aggressive batting style, powerful hitting, and remarkable fielding abilities. He was often regarded as a match-winner for his ability to change the game’s course with his explosive batting.
Yuvraj Singh was a left-handed batsman known for his elegant stroke play. He had a natural flair for attacking shots and was particularly strong in playing the pull and cut shots.
Yuvraj Singh participated in the Indian Premier League. He represented various teams throughout his IPL career, with notable stints for Kings XI Punjab and the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
