India and England have clashed five times in T20 World Cups, but if it comes to revisit-worthy contests, then the one in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007 would be a cricket classic. Ahead of the India vs England semifinal match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, it would be worth replaying that contest, where Yuvraj Singh stole the spotlight with a blazing knock in Durban.
On September 19, 2007, Yuvraj achieved a glorious milestone that made cricketing history when he hit six consecutive sixes in one over. India and England were up against each other in a Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup 2007 at Kingsmead, Durban.
India opted to bat first and were going well at 171 for 3, when Yuvraj walked out to bat. However, at the end of the 18th over, Yuvraj and Andrew Flintoff had an altercation with few words exchanged. A fired up Yuvraj was all set to face Stuart Broad in the next over, who had no clue what would hit him.
Yuvraj launched the first delivery off Broad over mid-off for a six. The second ball disappeared into the stands beyond backward square leg, the third flew over extra cover. The fourth delivery was a full-toss and Yuvraj cut it over backward point for a six.
Then England skipper Paul Collingwood had a word with Broad and suggested the bowler to change the line by targeting the off stump. But it had no effect and the result the same as he smashed the fifth for a six over square leg. The momentum was with Yuvraj and he was favourite to clear the ropes again with Broad under tremendous pressure. Broad went for a yorker but erred and Yuvraj launched it into the stands over long-on. Broad, England and Flintoff couldn’t believe what just hit them.
Yuvraj in the process notched up a 12-ball fifty, still the fastest by a batter in T20I cricket. His 58 off just 16 balls powered India to 218 for 4 in 20 overs. England gave India a tough fight and looked like chasing down the target before they were restricted to 200 for 6, giving India an 18-run win.
From there India went on to win the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup but this six sixes in an over by Yuvraj, still remains one of the cherished moment in T20 cricket. Later, reflecting on that historic moment, he says altercation with Flintoff and memories of being hit for five sixes by Dimitri Mascarenhas in an ODI earlier, motivated him to deliver that special moment.
