Match Referee checked my bat after 2007 World T20 semi-final – Yuvraj Singh

Former Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh revealed that the match referee Chris Broad checked his bat after he bludgeoned 70 runs from only 30 balls in the semi-final clash against Australia in the 2007 T20 World Cup. Yuvraj was in the form of his life in the tournament and had hit the ground running against the mighty Aussies.

The southpaw batsman smashed five sixes and as many fours in his blistering knock which helped India in getting to a par score of 188 runs. Subsequently, India was able to restrict Australia to 173 and won by 15 runs. Thus, Yuvraj Singh was awarded the Man of the match award.

The all-rounder added that Australian coach and wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist questioned his bat, as it was breathing fire. Yuvraj told them they can get it checked and thus Match Referee Chris Broad had a look at his bat.

“The Australian coach came to me and asked if there was a fibre behind my back and asked if it was legal. Has the match referee checked it? So I told him to get it checked. Even Gilchrist asked me who used to make our bats,” Yuvraj told Sports Tak.

“The match referee had also checked my bat. But honestly, that bat was very special for me. I have never played with a bat like that. That one and the 2011 World Cup bat, they were special.”

Meanwhile, Yuvraj was middling everything in the T20 World Cup and he was in great form. The left-hander had also created history when he smashed England rookie fast bowler Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over. Yuvraj was tempted by England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in the previous over and poor Broad had to pay the price.

Yuvraj scored 148 runs in five innings of the 2007 T20 World Cup and played a major role in the success of the team. In fact, his strike rate in the whole tournament was a staggering 194.74.

Yuvraj was always a big match player and brought his best to the table in the crucial matches of the mega events. The southpaw also played a major role in the success of the 2011 World Cup as he scored 362 runs and scalped 15 wickets.

Written by: Gautam Chauhan