Yuvraj Singh's Six Sixes: Flintoff's Sledge and a Record-Breaking Over
How Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes off Stuart Broad's over in the 2007 T20 World Cup — the Flintoff provocation, what Yuvraj hit, and why no other Indian batsman has matched this feat in international cricket.
On September 19, 2007, during the Super 8 stage of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, Yuvraj Singh hit England's Stuart Broad for six consecutive sixes in a single over — the first time this had been achieved in international T20 cricket. The innings came in a match India needed to win to progress in the tournament, and was directly preceded by a confrontation between Yuvraj and Andrew Flintoff, who had been sledging the Indian batsman. Yuvraj scored 58 runs from 16 balls in that innings.
The Provocation
The incident began when Yuvraj and Flintoff — both respected all-rounders — had a brief verbal exchange on the field. Flintoff's exact words were not published but Yuvraj later said he was angry enough to be motivated rather than distracted. Broad, then 21 and in only his second T20 international, was the next bowler. Yuvraj hit each of the six deliveries for six — over long-on, long-off, and fine leg in various combinations. Broad's over went for 36 runs, and he was taken off immediately.
Context and Achievement
- Six sixes in an over had been achieved in first-class cricket before — Garfield Sobers (1968, Malcolm Nash) and Ravi Shastri (1985, Tilak Raj) had both done it in county and domestic cricket.
- Yuvraj's feat against Broad was the first time it had been done in international T20 cricket, and the first time it had been done in any international cricket match.
- Broad later said that the experience, humiliating as it was, helped his development as a bowler — he learned to manage pressure and adversity at 21, earlier than most professionals.
Frequently asked questions
Has anyone hit six sixes in an over in Test cricket?
Yes, six sixes in an over has been achieved in Test cricket once: by Shivnarine Chanderpaul's teammate — actually no, it was Herschelle Gibbs for South Africa against Netherlands in the 2007 World Cup (not a Test). In Test cricket itself, no one has hit six sixes in an over. Yuvraj's 6 sixes came in T20 international cricket. The feat in first-class cricket was first achieved by Gary Sobers in 1968. In ODI World Cups, Gibbs achieved it in 2007.
What happened to Yuvraj Singh after his cricket career?
Yuvraj Singh played his last international cricket in 2017 and formally retired in 2019. After retirement from international cricket, he continued in IPL and franchise T20 leagues. His cancer diagnosis in 2011 and recovery led to significant charitable work through his YouWeCan Foundation, which funds cancer awareness and treatment access in India. He played in various T20 leagues globally after his international career ended, and has been an active cricket commentator and mentor.