Yuvraj Singh: Six Sixes and the 2011 World Cup Hero
A complete guide to Yuvraj Singh — the left-handed strokemaker who hit six sixes in one over at the 2007 T20 World Cup, won the 2011 ODI World Cup Player of the Tournament award, and battled cancer to return to international cricket.
Yuvraj Singh is one of cricket's most beloved figures — a swashbuckling left-handed batsman who hit six sixes in one over at the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, won the Player of the Tournament award at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and then fought a life-threatening cancer before returning to international cricket. He scored 1,900 Test runs, 8,701 ODI runs, and is one of India's greatest match-winners in limited-overs cricket.
Six Sixes in One Over: Durban 2007
Yuvraj's most celebrated moment came in Durban on 19 September 2007, when he hit Stuart Broad for six consecutive sixes in the 19th over of India's innings against England in the ICC World Twenty20. The six sixes came off the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh balls of the over (two no-balls extended it), covering mid-wicket, long-on, over cover, midwicket, long-on, and long-off in a display of hitting power that shocked even those who had seen Garry Sobers' famous feat in 1968. He finished with 58 off 16 balls. India won the tournament.
2011 World Cup: Player of the Tournament
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, won by India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, was Yuvraj's finest extended performance. He took 15 wickets and scored 362 runs, including a 57-ball century against Australia in the quarter-final. He was named Player of the Tournament despite later revealing he had been playing through advanced lung cancer — the cancer was diagnosed shortly after the tournament ended. That he could deliver tournament-winning performances while concealing a serious illness added extraordinary poignancy to his already remarkable contribution.
Cancer Diagnosis and Comeback
In early 2012, Yuvraj was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his left lung. He underwent chemotherapy in the US and was given a clean bill of health in April 2012. He returned to international cricket in September 2012, scoring a half-century on his comeback ODI and playing on for another seven years. His cancer battle and recovery made him a symbol of courage far beyond cricket, and his foundation YouWeCan has raised significant funds for cancer awareness across India.
Career Statistics
| Format | Mat | Runs | Avg | 100s | Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 40 | 1,900 | 33.92 | 3 | 9 |
| ODIs | 304 | 8,701 | 36.55 | 14 | 111 |
| T20Is | 58 | 1,177 | 28.70 | 0 | 28 |
Frequently asked questions
Who bowled the over in which Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes?
Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes off Stuart Broad (England) during the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 in Durban, South Africa. The over technically contained 8 balls as Broad bowled two no-balls during the sequence. Yuvraj finished on 58 off 16 balls and India won the match.
What did Yuvraj Singh achieve at the 2011 Cricket World Cup?
Yuvraj Singh was named Player of the Tournament at the 2011 World Cup, scoring 362 runs (including a century against Australia) and taking 15 wickets as India won the tournament for the first time since 1983. He later revealed he had been playing through a cancerous lung tumour throughout the competition.
Did Yuvraj Singh recover from cancer?
Yes. Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his left lung in early 2012 and underwent chemotherapy in the United States. He was declared cancer-free in April 2012 and returned to international cricket in September 2012, continuing to play until 2017. He retired from all cricket in June 2019.