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ICC CT 2017: Punjabi boy Yuvraj Singh is the key behind India success in ICC tournaments [OPINION]

ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Then to add the cherry on the cake, Yuvraj Singh won the man of the tournament award when India won the 2011 World Cup

Yuvraj Singh is arguably the biggest match winner in the blues and he has proved it time and again and lately he showed he is vintage in the ICC Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan. A high-octane game, India needed a move on when Yuvraj Singh joined another Punjabi Virat Kohli, who too was not middling the ball as he would have liked. But then Yuvraj Singh stepped it up by going after the Pakistani bowlers, taking the pressure of Virat Kohli, even he (Virat Kohli) mentioned this fact during the post match interview, the Indian skipper remained 81 not out. But, it was Yuvraj Singh who was rightly adjudicated the man of the match. His 50 was also the fastest by an Indian in ICC Champions Trophy history. From trumping cancer to being the man of the series in the 2011 World Cup, this Punjabi has been there seen it all. He is just second to Sachin Tendulkar when it comes to winning the most man of the match awards at ICC matches.

Most Man of the Match awards for India in ICC events:

10 – Sachin Tendulkar
9 – YUVRAJ SINGH*
7 – Virat Kohli #INDvPAK #CT17

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) June 4, 2017

Fastest 50s in ICC CT: (By balls)

18 S Afridi
21 C McMillan
26 E Morgan
28 J Ryder
29 YUVRAJ SINGH*
30 N Kulasekara #INDvPAK #CT17

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) June 4, 2017

Yuvraj Singh is no stranger to accolades. It is surely not a myth that when Yuvraj Singh gets to a fifty, India invariably wins.

Happiness is Watching Vintage Yuvi #YuvrajSingh 53r 32b #CT17 #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/9eSe7fuBUh

— Rishi balaji (@rishibalaji97) June 4, 2017


Yuvraj Singh appeared in the One Day scene in 1999 in Nairobi and in his debut against Australia he showed he is has the ‘champion-instinct’ by carting a champion attack and scoring a breathtaking 85 and the rest as they say is history.

#INDvPAK
Lion is always Lion #YuvrajSingh pic.twitter.com/1wrdta5nUq

— மக்களில் ஒருவன் (@achamindri) June 4, 2017


But, whenever India needed him to stand up and deliver, he did it. It is a long list that starts with his debut in Nairobi against Australia.

The Fighter , The Match winner , The Inspiration , The hardworker , The True Champion #YuvrajSingh #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/yTsCb02OT0

— Іитяоцеят (@Just_nanii) June 4, 2017


He also played a pivotal role in the Natwest Finals in 2004, alongside Mohammad Kaif.
If that was not good enough to prove how special he was, he played the ideal finisher with Mahendra Singh Dhoni when India toured Pakistan, again a big stage and big match.

Once again! #INDvPAK #CT17 #YuvrajSingh pic.twitter.com/X32oQus7Qw

— H.D. (@ThatLocalGuy) June 4, 2017

Cometh the hour, cometh the man!
Come inaugural T20 World Cup and India needed to win big against England because they had lost to New Zealand, there is Yuvraj Singh who smashes his name into the record books by hitting six sixes in an over.

#DidYouKnow: Yuvraj Singh made his acting debut with a Punjabi movie titled, Mehndi Shagna Di in 1992. #YuvrajSingh @YUVSTRONG12 pic.twitter.com/puXIiCqhLf

— Akash Jain (@akash207) June 4, 2017


In the same tournament, in the semi-finals against Australia, Yuvraj Singh demolished the Australian attack hitting a breathtaking 74 off 28 balls to set up a winning target.

#YuvrajSingh #indiavspak wow complete satisfying performance!
India completely outplayed pak as usual..champ @imVkohli @YUVSTRONG12 @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/AvmEqNT62x

— Wasim Akhtar (@wasimak219) June 4, 2017


Then to add the cherry on the cake, he won the man of the tournament award when India won the 2011 World Cup, just goes to show that he is truly India’s biggest match winner of all time.

Now everyone will know his fitness ….Second fastest odi fifty against pak #Yuvi #Yuvraj #INDvPAK @YUVSTRONG12 #YuvrajSingh #CT17 pic.twitter.com/PxF3zTnEGR

— KARTHICK (@KarthickManush) June 4, 2017


With him coming in good form augurs well for team India, who are on their quest of title defense.