"That Yuvraj Singh ball changed my life": Dwayne Bravo on the delivery that "made the world look up"

Bravo talked about the delivery to Yuvraj in 2006 that turned his career around.

Dwayne Bravo | GettyWest Indies' Dwayne Bravo is considered as one of the all-time greats in the shortest format of the game. He is only getting younger and continues to break records for fun. Just yesterday, he became the leading wicket taker in IPL history with 171 wickets, overtaking Lasith Malinga’s 170.

His international career started long back in the early 2000s for the West Indies. He particularly remembers an instance from the Indian tour of the Caribbean in 2006 that changed things for him.

It was the second ODI in Jamaica which resulted in a heartbreaking 1-run loss for India. It was an extremely close game with India needing just 2 runs off last 3 balls to secure a win.

With Yuvraj Singh on strike, having just hit a couple of boundaries, India were clear favourites to win the game. On the very next ball, Bravo bowled a variation, it was a slower ball that Yuvraj missed. It went on to hit the leg stump and hand India an unlikely defeat.

It made the world look up and notice that I have one of the best change-up balls in business and it made my T20 career," Bravo told Indian Express, talking about that moment.

Bravo revealed that then-West Indies captain Brian Lara had discussed “field placements” with him ahead of the wicket-taking ball. He revealed that he still didn’t know what he was going to be bowling until he reached the umpire during his run-up.

I still hadn’t really thought about what ball to bowl. I am still not clear when I go to the top of my run-up. At some point, before I get to the umpire, I decide I am going to bowl that dipper," said Bravo.

When he was asked to name his favourite delivery, Bravo picked the one to Yuvraj. “Too many, man, to choose one ball as favourite. That Yuvraj ball did change my life," said Bravo.

 
 

By Aman Gupta - 01 Apr, 2022

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