But there was so much that happened leading up to that moment. He has this thing about him: effortless, poised, not showing an ounce of pressure. Game in and game out, that is Yuvraj Singh for you. 

On his day, a cyclone. A destructive one. Pummelling  the opposition with ginormous sixes, smashing boundaries at will. He would leave them helpless and just sweep everything away. A destruction so beautiful. But a gladiator’s life is never easy. He has had to climb many mountains and win many battles to etch his name in history.

Let’s begin with the year 2000. India were up against Australia in the quarterfinal of the ICC Champions Trophy’s and were reduced to 90/3, batting first. With India desperate for a miracle, up stepped a fresh-faced Yuvraj Singh.

It was his batting debut and I clearly remember the moment. His effortlessly graceful shots and composure made it seem like he was born and bred for the 22 yard strip.

Up against the likes of McGrath, Brett Lee & Gillespie, Yuvraj scored a match-saving 84 off just 80 balls. India went on to win the game and the young southpaw had announced himself in the grandest of fashions.

At the time, many said that we finally got our very own David Gower. The Englishman was arguably one of the most stylish left-handed batters in history. But Yuvraj’s performances cemented the fact that his was a different kind and he was here to stay.

His name soon became a chant. “Yuvi! Yuvi!”, the crowd would scream when the man stepped over the boundary rope and walked in with a certain dominance in his casual stride.

His statistics became just as impressive as his persona on the field. 

Forget the batting bit, the man could bowl and boy, could he field! He padded his elbows, and for good reason. Throughout his career, he pulled off some unbelievable scorchers.

You can’t forget the time when India chased down a record-breaking 325 against England at Lord’s in 2002. Yuvraj and Kaif held the fort like two valiant knights, while the King (Sourav Ganguly) celebrated, flourishing his colours proudly from the Lord’s balcony.

T20 cricket was on the rise and soon arrived the 2007 World Cup. India were playing England in a group match and Flintoff was sledging Yuvraj in the 17th over of the Indian innings.

Yuvi replied his own unique way in the next over. He hit 6 sixes off 6 balls and a fifty in just 12. History was made.

Soon though, a new war was on the horizon and the knight readied his weapons. The 2011 World Cup was held on home turf, and Yuvraj knew this was his opportunity to be remembered forever. It was his time to be a gladiator.

In the quarterfinal, India were up against the men from Down Under. Chasing 260, India were in deep trouble when Yuvraj came into bat. But he won us the battle, with an unbeaten 57. India had dethroned the defending champions. The gladiator roared.

Eventually, the war was won as India lifted the 2011 World Cup and Yuvraj turned out to be our greatest warrior. Awarded the Man of the Series and dedicating the victory to his idol, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

He had defeated all the enemies he saw in his path. But soon, there was one enemy that even he couldn’t see. During the World Cup, he had fallen ill and had had breathing issues.

In fact, it was later said that after the match with Australia, he could have died of a heart attack because a tumour was pressing against his lung and artery. Post the World Cup, Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with cancer.

I remembered the boy in 2000, who took us to victory in a match. And the man in 2011, who helped us rule the world. He had been ever-present through thick and thin. The news shook Indian cricket to its foundation. A new battle had begun for the gladiator.

MS Dhoni expressed the sentiments of an entire nation. “I just said, ‘Are you sure?’ The person repeated that Yuvraj has cancer. I was shocked.”

Sachin Tendulkar once mentioned, “When I went to meet him in London, I was telling my wife that I don’t want to break down when I see him. I met him and gave him a tight hug. We enjoyed a meal, and from the way he ate I was convinced that he was back on track.”

The fighter in Yuvraj refused to give up. After a year of hellacious chemotherapy and rehabilitation, he took up arms again.

In 2012, he became the highest wicket taker for India in that year’s World Twenty20.

He also scored a blistering 72 off just 36 balls in the Indo-Pak T20 series that year. And he bettered it by scoring 77 off 35 in the only T20I against Australia, the very next year, in October.

He scored a century for the Rest of the World team against the MCC team at the bicentennial anniversary of the MCC. His century came off a boundary off Sachin’s delivery. How fitting was that?

In the 2015 season of the IPL, he was transferred from Royal Challengers Bangalore to Delhi Daredevils for a record breaking fee of ₹16 crores. A testament to the man’s greatness.

Source: sports.ndtv

Yes, he was wounded. But like I said before, no matter how hard it got, he never left the battlefield. From a young soldier to a knight to a gladiator, he was always there. 

Yuvraj’s life has sure been a dramatic book. And now another chapter begins. After going through so much, looks like Yuvi is set to have his fairytale ending. 

No matter how many all rounders grace the game, Yuvi will forever remain irreplaceable. For whatever endeavours that lie ahead, we wish India’s favourite gladiator all the very best in life.