It is a feat not many cricketers can even dream of achieving. The holy hexagram of big hitting; belting six sixes in a single over. Hence, when an Indian player was on the verge of becoming the first cricketer in history to achieve the feat in a T20I match, the world was glued to their television screens. The man at the centre of the storm, however, looked as calm as the summer sea. He dispatched England’s Stuart Broad to all parts of the park with remarkable ease and precision, giving the cricketing world another moment of awe to look back at. The legend of the lion from Chandigarh, Yuvraj Singh, was etched forever in the history books.

The young Sher-e-Punjab

Yuvraj Singh caught the world’s attention as a youngster with his consistent performances for India at the Under-19 stage. His ability to clear the fence at will made him a dangerous player in the limited overs format, and he soon found a place in the Indian national side. The famous partnership with Mohammad Kaif which helped India clinch the 2002 NatWest series against England at Lord’s helped him cement his place in the limited overs team, and he kept going from strength to strength after that, rising through the ranks of Indian cricket.

Rise to the top

With the rising popularity of Twenty20 cricket, the clean hitting skills of Yuvraj Singh had found a tailor-made arena and he soon became one of the most destructive players in that format. His crowning glory was smashing Stuart Broad for six sixes in a single over in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. It was an achievement that not even the biggest names in world cricket could boast of, and he managed to pull it off with such ease and elegance – as if it was some workaday task like buttering toast. He helped India win the tournament with a stunning display throughout and became one of the mainstays of the famed Indian middle order.

Yuvstrong

Like all big-game players, Yuvraj Singh’s form peaked when his team needed him the most and he was instrumental in India winning the 2011 World Cup after a gap of 28 years. He was the Man of the Tournament, scoring 362 runs and picking up 15 wickets with his slow left arm spin.

However, immediately after the big event, Yuvraj was engaged in another testing battle - this time with cancer - which took a huge toll on the southpaw’s health. The champion beat the disease though, making a riveting return to the big stage soon after, proving how fierce a warrior the Sher-e-Punjab is.

Taking the league by storm

The Indian batting stalwart has also had a big impact on the VIVO Indian Premier League over the years. He was Kings XI Punjab’s icon player in the initial editions and captained the side for a long period. He was the most expensive player of the season in 2014 and 2015, where he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils respectively. Subsequently, he was a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s league-winning squad, where he made several vital contributions.

Now, after a long wait, the lion from Punjab is finally coming back to his den and raring to play with Kings XI Punjab. He will be on the prowl for success, and India’s Maximum Man will leave no survivors in his wake. Kings ke liye Taj, iss baar layega Yuvraj!