Yuvraj Singh was invariably a limelight moth when the big occasion arrived. He was the player of the series when India won their first ever under-19 World Cup in 2000, in Sri Lanka. Nine months later, playing for India in the Champions Trophy in Kenya, the left-hander demolished a star-studded Australian side to announce his arrival on the world stage. His feats in the 2007 World T20 are still fondly remembered and celebrated. However, the 2011 World Cup at home turned out to be Yuvraj Singh's apogee.
'Yuvi' was never the kind of player to hide his light under a bushel. With bat, ball or on the field - the Punjab-born allrounder was always elegance personified. However, just style or talent is a nebulous concept in sport. It is when concomitant with performance that the trait is brought to the fore... like, in Yuvraj's case, in 2000, 2007 and more importantly, 2011.
Yuvraj had a rather lukewarm start to his 2011 WC campaign. He wasn't needed in the opening game against Bangladesh as Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli ran amok. In the next three games, however, he showed clearly why he was going to be India's man for the moment. If his quickfire fifty against England in Bangalore was a portent, his all-round efforts against Ireland (50* & 5/31) and Netherlands (51* & 2/43) were the vindication.
If it was at all possible for Yuvraj to step on to the next level, he did so soon after. A solid hundred and a two-wicket haul against West Indies helped India consolidate second spot in the table and a slot in the next stage. With India needing the players to be at their best during the knock-out stages, 'Yuvraj the finisher' made his mark.
Twice in the quarter-final against Australia, Yuvraj played saviour. His figures of two for 44 were the best amongst all the bowlers in the game, but it was his 65-ball 57 that helped India end Australia's 12-year World Cup dominance. There was a blip against arch-rivals Pakistan in the semis, as he suffered a first-ball duck. He redeemed himself with the ball, taking the important wickets of Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan to push India towards a historic final at Wankhede in Mumbai.
In perhaps the biggest game of his career, Yuvraj did not have the same impact that he had had on the rest of the tournament. At least, thanks to MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir, he didn't need to have. However, when he was called upon, the left-hander did his job and, fittingly, was at the other end when Dhoni lofted Nuwan Kulasekara over long-on to end India's 28-year wait. Yuvraj's subsequent celebration and tears of joy showed how much the victory meant to him.
