The flamboyant Yuvraj Singh started trending early Sunday morning after his four straight six during a T20 World Road Safety Series, rising again nearly two years after walking into the international sunset.
The iconic Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj turned the clock back and took Raipur by storm in their inimitable style when India Legends recorded a resounding 57-run victory over South Africa Legends at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Saturday.
South Africa, which is chasing 205 to win, was limited to 148 for 7 in 20 overs.
Tendulkar scored his first half-century of the tournament, while the graceful Yuvraj showed his true colors with an undefeated 52 in India’s big win.
The victory brought India back to first place with 16 points, beating Sri Lanka in net run rate.
Tendulkar, 47, broke a 60 of 37 balls with nine limits and a six, while Yuvraj starred in an undefeated 52 of 22 balls with six impressive six, including four in a row and two hits to the ropes.
S Badrinath contributed 42 (34b, 2 × 6, 4 × 4) before being carried away by his teammates after injuring his right hamstring. Tall Yusuf Pathan, too, joined the party with his big shots, hitting a quick 23 of 10 balls with two fours plus sixes.
Put at bat by South Africa captain Jonty Rhodes, the more than 50,000 spectators thundered ‘Sachin, Sachin’ as Tendulkar came out at bat with his opening teammate Virender Sehwag.
As the heavy hitter executed those back strokes through the covers and the direct straight classic against Makhaya Ntini, the spectators jumped out of their seats in joy.
Then it was the Yuvraj show until the end. Taking four bowling highs from closer Zander de Bruyn at 18, the southpaw recalled his heroics in the 2007 World T20 when he broke six sixes in an over.
Once king! always a king ❤️
That great bat lift, his lazy grace, and the way he measures the ball with fierce power! When he’s in a song, there is nothing more enjoyable than Yuvraj Singh in world cricket! pic.twitter.com/zyakjtMYvR
– ArunAshok (@ arun661) March 14, 2021
Yuvi Paaji almost took us back to the 2007 T-20 World Cup. When it gets going, it’s total madness in the stadium. Great man and his love story with the six. @ YUVSTRONG12 # RoadSafetyWorldSeries2021 pic.twitter.com/HqS86Qk2ek
– Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) March 13, 2021
Yuvraj, 39, retired from international cricket in June 2019.
Short Scores: India Legends 204/3 in 20 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 60, Yuvraj Singh 52 not out, S Badrinath 42, Yusuf Pathan 23, Manpreet Singh Gony 16; Monde Zondeki 2/35) beat South Africa 148/7 in 20 overs (Andrew Puttick 41, Morne van Wyk 48; Yusuf Pathan 3/34, Yuvraj Singh 2/18).
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She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.