3 min learnMar 5, 2026 11:22 AM IST
The 2007 World Twenty20 had already produced just a few surprises, however on the night of September 19 in Durban, it delivered one of the vital unforgettable moments in cricket historical past. Dealing with England in a vital Tremendous Eight conflict, Yuvraj Singh produced a surprising show of power-hitting, smashing six consecutive sixes off Stuart Broad in a single over – a feat that immediately entered cricket folklore.
The drama started a couple of minutes earlier. Within the 18th over of India’s innings, Yuvraj struck Andrew Flintoff for 2 boundaries. As he walked down the pitch after taking a single, Flintoff exchanged heated phrases with him. The banter shortly escalated right into a confrontation, forcing the umpire to step in.
Yuvraj later recalled that Flintoff repeated his remarks and even spat in his course, which additional angered him. “I used to be livid,” he stated later, including that the change made him wish to “hit each ball out of the bottom.”
England captain Paul Collingwood handed the ball to a younger Broad for the nineteenth over. What adopted would turn into one of the vital iconic overs in cricket historical past.
Six balls, six sixes
Yuvraj began the over by launching Broad over deep midwicket for six. The subsequent supply disappeared over sq. leg. The third sailed over long-off. By now, the packed Kingsmead crowd sensed one thing extraordinary unfolding.
Broad tried adjusting his line, but it surely made little distinction. The fourth ball was smashed over level, the fifth over sq. leg, and the ultimate supply disappeared over long-on – sealing six sixes in six balls.
The barrage introduced up Yuvraj’s half-century in simply 12 balls, the quickest in T20 worldwide cricket on the time, and turned the sport decisively in India’s favour.
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A turning level within the match
Earlier than the over started, India have been 171/3. By the point Broad completed, the scoreboard had raced to 207, fully shifting the momentum. India ultimately completed on 218/4, a large whole within the early days of T20 cricket.
England by no means recovered from the onslaught and fell quick within the chase as India received by 18 runs. Yuvraj’s six sixes have been greater than only a private milestone. The feat got here in a must-win match for India, following an earlier loss to New Zealand, which stored them alive within the match.
It additionally helped form India’s perception within the shortest format. Led by MS Dhoni, the younger Indian aspect went on to win the match, defeating Pakistan within the remaining and claiming the inaugural T20 World Cup title.
A second that outlined T20 cricket
Six sixes in an over had been seen earlier than – notably when Herschelle Gibbs achieved it within the 2007 ODI World Cup – however Yuvraj’s assault carried a distinct aura. It got here in opposition to a significant cricketing nation, underneath immense strain, within the early days of T20 cricket.
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Greater than something, it confirmed how shortly a recreation may change within the shortest format. One heated change, one over of breathtaking hitting, and the course of a match – and maybe a match – was remodeled eternally.