September 19, 2026 marks 19 years since one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history - Yuvraj Singh smacking six sixes in a single over against England in the opening match of the first ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa.
The unforgettable assault took place on September 19, 2007 at Kingsmead in Durban. Yuvraj ripped into England fast bowler Stuart Broad during the 19th over, hitting every delivery over the boundary and setting a record that is now one of the most famous in T20 cricket.
The Tension Before the Sixes
India were playing a must-win match against England in the group stage. Yuvraj came into the attack late in India's innings after an exchange with England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
With only a few overs left Yuvraj produced a power performance. Broad was handed the 19th over, but what happened next became cricket folklore.
Six Deliveries, Six Sixes
Yuvraj launched the first delivery over the boundary and then repeated the feat five more times.
He found different areas of the ground with remarkable timing and power and cleared the ropes six consecutive times. The over produced 36 runs, turning India’s already strong position into a massive total.
According to the ICC, Yuvraj was the *first* batter to hit six sixes in a single over in T20 internationals. He was also the fourth player in professional cricket at the time to do so in all formats.
A 12-Ball Fifty
The six sixes also completed another remarkable feat. Yuvraj reached his half-century from just 12 deliveries, the fastest fifty in men's T20I cricket.
He finished with 58 runs from only 16 balls and seven sixes and three fours. Broad later dismissed him in the final over, but the damage was already done.
Look out in the crowd!
— ICC (@ICC) September 19, 2021
On this day in 2007, @YUVSTRONG12 made #T20WorldCup history, belting six sixes in an over 💥 pic.twitter.com/Bgo9FxFBq6
India Post 218 and Win the Match
Yuvraj’s extraordinary late assault helped India finish on 218/4 from their 20 overs.
England had a strong response, but India’s bowlers managed to restrict them to 200 and India won by 18 runs.
That result kept India’s campaign alive and was one of the key matches in the beginning of the T20 World Cup. India went on to win the tournament and defeated Pakistan in the final in Johannesburg in the end.
A Record That Became Cricket History
Yuvraj's six sixes quickly became one of the defining images of the new T20 era. The ICC later recognised the performance and awarded Yuvraj the award of the 2008 Twenty20 International Performance of the Year.
The moment has also continued to resonate with cricket fans. In 2022, the ICC revealed that fans voted Yuvraj's six sixes as the ‘Greatest moment’ in its T20 World Cup FanCraze poll.
19 Years Later, The Moment Remains Iconic
Yuvraj's 36-run over is still instantly recognizable to cricket fans around the world. Nineteen years after that September night in Durban, it’s a memorable moment for fans.
The six sixes, 12-ball fifty and 18-run victory combined to make up one of the most memorable passages in India’s T20 history - a performance that still goes down in history nearly two decades later.
