Peerless Yuvraj Singh gives India explosive start

Bangladesh muster 155–8 in response to India's 180–5
India win by 25 runs after Yuvraj onslaught

The Observer, Sunday 7 June 2009

Yuvraj Singh swipes across the line on his way to an incendiary 41 from just 18 balls. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Even in the unpredictable swirl of Twenty20, two upsets in one weekend proved enough. England and Australia stumbled against lesser opponents, but India, favourites and defending champions, quelled the rebellion. Bangladesh, who knocked India out of the 2007 World Cup, failed by 25 runs.

Normality was restored by Yuvraj Singh, who routinely lords it over opponents as if batting is a hereditary privilege. India were vulnerable at 121 for two from 16 overs, but Yuvraj's 41 from 18 balls, with four lazily struck, leg-side sixes, banished misgivings. Trent Bridge, virtually full and Asian, chanted its appreciation. It was another night of Yuvi lovey-dovey. It might not be the last.

There is probably no form of one-day cricket that could shake Yuvraj's disdain. Ten10, or even Five5, would leave ample time for haughtiness and naughtiness. While others are consumed by the general bedlam of Twenty20, Yuvraj's indolence seems to grow in direct proportion to the pace of the game.

Yuvraj was the star of the inaugural World Twenty20 two years ago. Stuart Broad was a page boy serving up a feast for a king as he gorged himself upon six sixes in an over on a steamy night in Durban. In the semi-final, he beat Australia virtually single-handedly.

Naeem Islam, Bangladesh's off-break bowler, suffered Yuvraj's assault, conceding three leg-side sixes in four deliveries, dropping ever shorter as his spirit was broken. Another short ball from Rubel Hossain disappeared over long-on. Yuvraj becomes sated on sixes like Henry VIII on chicken legs.

He benefited, as he had two years ago, from a strong Indian opening partnership. Then it was Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag. Now it is Gambhir and the young buck Rohit Sharma (36 from 23 balls), whose presence at the top of the order, while Sehwag recovers from a shoulder injury, has led Indian media to imagine MS Dhoni and Sehwag, captain and vice-captain, are at loggerheads.

When The Times of India reported "the rumour mills were abuzz of an ugly face-off during a team meeting", the Indian squad were so infuriated that all 15 stood alongside Dhoni as he read out a pre-match statement complaining of "false and irresponsible media". Gary Kirsten, India's coach, who has promoted team unity in the face of Indian cricket's celebrity culture, said the affair had made India "more unified than ever". With wins in their past seven series in all competitions, they will take some beating.

Deccan Chargers, winners of IPL 2008, have provided impetus. Rohit has progressed rapidly under the captaincy of Australia's Adam Gilchrist, and there were four for 21, too, for the left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha on his Twenty20 debut. He dared to bowl slow and with flight, and two wickets in his first five balls, including Junaid Siddique (41 from 22 balls), slogging to deep mid-wicket, defused Bangladesh's threat.