I Had Also Removed My T-Shirt After The 2002 Natwest Final: Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh has been one of India’s biggest match-winners in the 21st century. And, If one has to list India’s greatest victories in their celebrated cricket history since 2000, Yuvraj Singh will automatically find a mention in almost all of them.

And, speaking of unforgettable victories, the Natwest Trophy triumph of 2002 will find its way into every possible list, irrespective of who makes it. And, for a variety of reasons. Firstly, India, under Sourav Ganguly had lost almost 10-12 finals in a row leading into the tri-series in the summer of 2002.

Secondly, India had just lost the final ODI of the home series against England on home turf, which led to Andrew Flintoff wave off his shirt on the middle of the pitch at the Wankhede.

And, thirdly, England had made a mammoth 325 in the final at Lord’s and India, who at one stage looked dead and buried with half of its side dismissed at the score of 146, scripted a comeback for the ages thanks to superlative knocks from two youngsters in Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif.

After India competed the win, Sourav Ganguly gave it back to Andrew Flintoff by removing his shirt on the Lord’s balcony in what went on to become one of the most iconic images of Indian cricket.But, now Yuvraj Singh, one of the heroes of that miraculous win has claimed that he had also removed his shirt but the fact that he was wearing another t-shirt underneath, is the reason why he went unnoticed.

“I had removed my shirt but I was wearing another t-shirt underneath because it was cold in England. Nobody noticed it so I was saved,” Yuvraj Singh said in an exclusive chat with Sports Tak.

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Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif scripted one of India’s greatest win at Lord’s in 2002

Coming back to the match, India had got off to a brilliant start with openers Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag putting on a 106-run-stand. But the middle-order collapsed substantially and all of a sudden, the Men in Blue were left reeling at 5-146.

This is when Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif decided to take matters into their own hands. The duo racked up a 121-run-stand with Yuvraj being the aggressive partner of the two. But once Yuvi went, Kaif took it upon himself and launched a stunning counterattack and along with Harbhajan and Zaheer took India past the finishing line in the 50th over.

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