Yuvraj Singh is one of India’s greatest all-rounders, known for his explosive left-handed batting and reliable left-arm spin. He scored 11,778 international runs and took 148 wickets across 40 Tests, 304 ODIs, and 58 T20Is.
He was Player of the Tournament at the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup with 362 runs and 15 wickets, and played a pivotal role in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup victory. Yuvraj famously hit six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad in 2007 a moment voted the greatest in ICC T20 World Cup history.
Few cricketers have captured the imagination of fans quite like Yuvraj Singh. Born on December 12, 1981, in Chandigarh, India, the left-handed batting prodigy announced his arrival on the international stage as a teenager and went on to craft a career defined by big-match performances and unforgettable moments.
Yuvraj Singh was never just a player who filled scorebooks he was a match-winner who rose to the occasion when it mattered most. From his stunning 84 off 80 balls against Australia in his early days to his heroics in two World Cup triumphs, his career reads like a script written for the biggest stages.Beyond the runs and wickets, Yuvraj’s battle with cancer and his courageous comeback added a deeply human dimension to his legacy, inspiring millions far beyond the cricket field. Today, he remains one of the most celebrated figures in Indian cricket history.
Early Life and Cricketing Beginnings
- Birth and family background in Chandigarh
- Father Yograj Singh’s influence and early training
- Move to Mumbai at age 15 to train at Dilip Vengsarkar’s academy
- First-class debut for Punjab in 1997 (caught out for a duck)
- Breakthrough at the 2000 ICC Under-19 World Cup Player of the Series
International Debut and Rise
- ODI debut against Kenya in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy
- Breakout innings: 84 off 80 balls against Australia’s pace attack
- Test debut against New Zealand in October 2003
- Establishing himself as India’s premier limited-overs all-rounder
Playing Style and Technique
- Explosive left-handed middle-order batting
- Ability to accelerate and clear boundaries at will
- Reliable slow left-arm orthodox bowling
- Exceptional fielder 94 catches in ODIs
- Known for performing under pressure in crunch situations
The 2007 T20 World Cup: Six Sixes and Glory
- The must-win Super 8 match against England in Durban
- Six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad first in men’s T20I history
- Fastest T20I fifty in just 12 balls still a record
- Match-winning 70 against Australia in the semi-final
- India lift the inaugural T20 World Cup
- Moment voted the greatest in ICC T20 World Cup history (52% of fan votes)
The 2011 Cricket World Cup: Player of the Tournament
- 362 runs in eight innings at an average of 90.50
- One century and four fifties
- 15 wickets at an average of 25.13
- First player to score a half-century and take five wickets in a single World Cup match (against Ireland)
- Match-winning 57* against Australia in the quarter-final
- India win the World Cup after 28 years
Career Statistics (Tables)
International Career Summary
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s | Highest Score | Wickets | Bowling Avg |
| Test | 40 | 1,900 | 33.92 | 3 | 11 | 169 | 9 | 60.77 |
| ODI | 304 | 8,701 | 36.55 | 14 | 52 | 150 | 111 | 38.68 |
| T20I | 58 | 1,177 | 28.02 | 0 | 8 | 77* | 28 | 17.82 |
Sources:
IPL Career Summary
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | Highest Score | Wickets | Teams Represented |
| 132 | 2,750 | 24.77 | 129.71 | 13 | 83 | 36 | 6 franchises |
Sources:
IPL Teams (2008–2019):
- Kings XI Punjab (twice)
- Pune Warriors India
- Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Delhi Daredevils/Capitals
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Mumbai Indians
IPL Titles:
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016)
- Mumbai Indians (2019)
The Cancer Battle and Comeback
- Diagnosed with mediastinal seminoma (germ-cell tumour between lungs) after the 2011 World Cup
- Doctors told him he had “three to six months left to live”
- Underwent chemotherapy in the United States under Dr Lawrence Einhorn
- Two-and-a-half years of treatment and recovery
- Made international comeback in a T20I against New Zealand in September 2012
- Smashed 35-ball 77 against Australia in a T20I in 2013
- Established a cancer foundation to help others
Records and Achievements
- First player to hit six sixes in a men’s T20I over
- Fastest fifty in T20I history (12 balls)
- Player of the Tournament – 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup
- Player of the Series – 2000 ICC Under-19 World Cup
- ICC ODI Team of the Year – 2006, 2009, 2011
- ICC T20I Performance of the Year – 2008 (six sixes)
- Only Indian to take two IPL hat-tricks in a single season (2009)
- Most centuries by an Indian at No. 5 in ODIs (seven)
- One of only a few players with 8,000+ ODI runs and 100+ ODI wickets
Retirement and Life After Cricket
- Announced retirement from international cricket on June 10, 2019
- Last international appearance: ODI against West Indies in 2017
- Announced 2019 IPL as his final season
- Continued participation in global T20 leagues
- Appointed as ambassador for Dunes T20 League in Saudi Arabia (2026)
- Publicly addressed and apologized for controversial remarks made by his father
Legacy and Impact
- One of India’s greatest limited-overs all-rounders
- Two-time ICC World Cup winner (2007 T20, 2011 ODI)
- Inspired millions through his cancer comeback story
- Remembered as a “big-match player” who excelled in crunch situations
- His six sixes remain one of cricket’s most iconic moments
FAQs
1. What is Yuvraj Singh famous for?
Yuvraj Singh is famous for being one of India’s greatest all-rounders, known for his explosive left-handed batting and left-arm spin. He is best remembered for hitting six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad in the 2007 T20 World Cup and for being Player of the Tournament in India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup victory.
2. How many runs did Yuvraj Singh score in his international career?
Yuvraj Singh scored 11,778 runs across all three international formats 1,900 in Tests, 8,701 in ODIs, and 1,177 in T20Is. He also took 148 wickets: 9 in Tests, 111 in ODIs, and 28 in T20Is.
3. When did Yuvraj Singh retire from international cricket?
Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from international cricket on June 10, 2019. He was 37 years old at the time. His last appearance for India was an ODI against West Indies in 2017, though he continued playing in the IPL until 2019.
4. What cancer did Yuvraj Singh have?
Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with mediastinal seminoma, a rare germ-cell tumour located between his two lungs. The diagnosis came immediately after the 2011 World Cup. He underwent chemotherapy treatment in the United States and made a remarkable recovery.
5. How many sixes did Yuvraj Singh hit off Stuart Broad?
Yuvraj Singh hit six consecutive sixes off England pacer Stuart Broad in the 19th over of India’s innings during the 2007 T20 World Cup group match in Durban. He became the first batter in men’s T20I cricket to achieve this feat.
6. What were Yuvraj Singh’s stats in the 2011 World Cup?
In the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, Yuvraj Singh scored 362 runs in eight innings at an average of 90.50, including one century and four fifties. He also took 15 wickets at an average of 25.13, earning him the Player of the Tournament award.
7. How many IPL teams did Yuvraj Singh play for?
Yuvraj Singh played for six different IPL franchises over his 12-year IPL career: Kings XI Punjab, Pune Warriors India, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils/Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Mumbai Indians. He won IPL titles with Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016) and Mumbai Indians (2019).
8. What is Yuvraj Singh’s fastest fifty record?
Yuvraj Singh holds the record for the fastest fifty in men’s T20I history, reaching his half-century in just 12 balls against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. This record stood for many years before being surpassed by Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee.
9. How many wickets did Yuvraj Singh take in ODIs?
Yuvraj Singh took 111 wickets in One Day Internationals at a bowling average of 38.68 and an economy rate of 5.10. His best ODI bowling figures were 5/31 against Ireland in the 2011 World Cup.
10. Did Yuvraj Singh make a comeback after cancer treatment?
Yes, Yuvraj Singh made an extraordinary comeback after his cancer treatment. He returned to the Indian team within six months of completing treatment, playing a T20I against New Zealand in September 2012. He later smashed a 35-ball 77 against Australia in 2013.
CONCLUSION
Yuvraj Singh’s journey from a teenage prodigy to one of India’s most beloved cricketing icons is a story of extraordinary talent, resilience, and redemption. Across 40 Tests, 304 ODIs, and 58 T20Is, he amassed nearly 12,000 international runs and over 140 wickets numbers that only tell part of the story. What truly defines Yuvraj is his ability to rise on the biggest stages: the six sixes off Stuart Broad in 2007, the Player of the Tournament performance in the 2011 World Cup, and the courage to battle cancer and return to the sport he loved.
He was never just a cricketer; he was a match-winner, an inspiration, and a symbol of never giving up. His legacy extends beyond runs and wickets it lives in the memories of millions who watched him conquer the world’s best bowlers and, more importantly, conquer life’s toughest challenges. Today, Yuvraj Singh remains a towering figure in cricket history, proof that true champions are defined not just by what they achieve, but by what they overcome.
