Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has said his team's famous Natwest series final against England taught him to fight till the last ball of the game.
Yuvraj spoke about the match in an Instagram Live session with former India batsman Mohammad Kaif.
"I got a very big lesson in that game when Sachin got out. They celebrated like they have won the match there and then Ronnie Irani told me when you go back enjoy yourselves. We started running well between the wickets and this caused panic in the England line-up. When they started to attack us, we were set by then. I realised in that game that at no stage, one should think they have won the match before the final ball," Yuvraj said.
Yuvraj Singh international career
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In ODIs, Yuvraj scored 8701 runs in 304 matches at an average of 36.56 and a strike rate of 87.68, including 52 fifties and 14 hundrends. His best individual score is 150.
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In T20s, the southpaw accumulated 1,177 runs in 58 matches at an average of 28.02 and a strike rate of 136.38, including eight fifties. His highest individual score is 77.
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In 40 Test matches, he has amassed 1900 runs at an average of 33.93, hitting 11 fifties and three hundred. His highest individual score is 169.
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He retired from all forms of cricket on June 10, 2019.
In the Natwest final at Lord's cricket ground in 2002, India chasing a target of 326 to win the Trophy. India was struggling at 146/5 when both Yuvraj and Kaif got together at the crease. The duo put on a partnership of 121 runs to give India a glimmer of hope in the match.
WATCH: India vs England 2020 Natwest final highlights
"When I entered the pitch during the Natwest final 2002, I thought that Yuvraj is in the middle and I knew that I do not worry about the strike rate. I knew I had to play my role and rotate the strike. I was not that mature during that match, I had played just 18-19 matches," Kaif said.
Yuvraj was dismissed for 69 runs, but Kaif batted well with the tailenders to give India a win in the final over by two wickets and with three balls to spare. After the win, the then skipper, Ganguly, took off his shirt and celebrated in style at the Lord's dressing room.
Kaif international career
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Kaif has scored 2753 runs in 125 ODIs at an average of 32.01 and a strike rate of 72.03, including 17 fifties and two centuries. His highest individual score is 111.
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In 13 Tests, Kaif accumulated 624 runs at an average of 32.84, hitting three fifties and one hundred. His highest individual score is 148.
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He retired from all forms of cricket in July 2018.
Yuvraj termed Kaif's knock as the best of his career. Kaif played an unbeaten knock of 87 runs off 75 balls, studded with two sixes and seven fours.
"Our partnership flourished. I was scoring boundaries in the middle, Dada (Sourav Ganguly) shouted from the dressing room to give me the strike but you (Kaif) smashed the ball for a six. You (Kaif) played very good innings in the finals. I think it has to be the best innings in your career. In terms of the pressure, I think it has to be your best ODI knock," Yuvraj said.
Yuvraj announced his retirement from international cricket in 2019. In a career that spanned over 304 ODIs, 58 T20Is and 40 Tests, Yuvraj imprinted his place in the echelons of cricket as a player who could win matches for his side either through his electric fielding, smart and attacking bowling, fierce batting or all of them in a single game.
Yuvraj helped India win ICC T20 and ODI World Cup
Big events brought out the best in him -- be it his international cricket entry at 2000 ICC Champions Trophy, the mesmerising batting exhibition at inaugural 2007 World Twenty20 or the all-round performance at 2011 World Cup.
 "India vs England 2002 Natwest final")
