Yuvraj was 2011 World Cup's real champion

India's remarkable ODI World Cup triumph last year was a team effort. But if there's one player who shone brighter than the rest, it was Yuvraj Singh. He was the prime reason why India danced on the streets on the night of April 2, 2011. 


Right through his career, Yuvraj has been known as a batsman who can bowl a bit. But during the 2011 campaign, he was among the team's premier strike bowlers. Thanks to him, we never missed an all-rounder. 


In the final, he had the best bowling figures in the side claiming K Sangakkara and T Samaraweera.  In the semis, he claimed the crucial wickets of Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan to put India back in the hunt. And in the quarters earlier, he was again India's most successful bowler taking the wickets of Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke. 


And that's not to forget his fiver against Ireland (five for 31). He followed that up with a 50 not out to earn the man of the match award in that game. In fact, he performed consistently with the bat throughout the championship; his match-winning 113 against West Indies being the best. In all he scored four 50s and one century in the tournament and deservingly got the player of the series award. 


Yuvraj is well known for 6 sixes in 6 balls. And he plays magnificently on the field perform great in all aspects from his stylish batting to impressive bowing and remarkable fielding. Yuvraj is the real match winner not only in world cup but also in netwest series in england T20 world cup and under 19 world cup which he has proved.


There can be no greater achievement for a cricketer than this: being the champion-player for your country a world cup-winning campaign. 


The post-triumph celebrations, though, focussed more on Tendulkar and Dhoni. But if you look at the performance during the entire championship, Yuvraj was The Man who had made it happen more than anybody else in the side - no offence meant to Zaheer, Gambhir, Dhoni, Tendulkar, Munaf, Sehwag, Raina, Kohli, Harbhajan and the rest. They were fabulous too.


Now the left-hander from Chandigarh is in the US undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. As sports-lovers, we must ensure that Yuvraj knows that every cricket fan is with him. That we are all praying he recovers fast and recovers well. We know he will. 


India needs Yuvraj Singh as a cricketer. But, more importantly, India loves him for all the happiness he has given us. Wish you a Speedy recovery.