India defeated Australia in ICC knockouts only on 4 occasions with Yuvraj Singh winning Man of the Match awards in 3 matches

The Men in Blue have managed to overpower formidable Australia only on four occasions in ICC knockout matches. In those all-important encounters, former stylish southpaw Yuvraj Singh has won man of the match on three occasions. Moreover, Yuvi battled cancer to help India emerge champions in 2011 World Cup.

Let’s have a look at the four ICC knockout matches that India won against Australia.

1998: India defeated Australia by 44 runs in a Champions Trophy quarter-final game in Dhaka on October 28, 1998. Legendry Sachin Tendulkar was the match-winner for India as he scored a thrilling century of 141 runs in just 128 balls.

2000: India got the better of Australia in another quarter-final of Champions Trophy. India beat the Australians by 20 runs on the occasion. Explosive southpaw Yuvraj Singh played a destructive knock of 84 runs in 80 balls to be awarded man of the match.

2007: India defeated Australia by 15 runs in the T20 World Cup in Durban. Match winner Yuvraj Singh’s thunderous knock of 70 runs off 30 balls laced with five fours and as many sixes ended Australia’s campaign.

2011: India defeated Australia by five wickets in the ODI World Cup quarter-final in Ahmedabad. Yuvraj put-up an all-round show to bag two wickets and score an unbeaten 57 runs with the bat to emerge man of the match.

Yuvi battled cancer to emerge with flying colours

Yuvraj played the 2011 World Cup without realizing that he was fighting cancer which was taking massive toll on his body during the coveted tournament. The stylish southpaw was even seen coughing blood while batting in the middle of a match. But the fighting cricketer never considered leaving the ground. He continued to bat for India despite the pain.

Yuvi scored 362 runs in eight innings of nine matches at the World Cup with a massive average of 90.50 as his campaign included four half centuries and one ton. The all-rounder also picked up 15 wickets in the nine games with a brilliant economy of 5.02 in the tournament.

Also Read | IPL 2024: McGurk, Kuldeep Star in DC's Six-wicket Win Against LSG

Fans often criticize cricketers these days by comparing them with Yuvraj Singh. While the cricketers these days skip their national duties due to minor niggles, Yuvi battled severe pain due to cancer to help India emerge champions in a marquee event like World Cup.