There was a raised eyebrow here, a frown there and a whole lot of anticipation everywhere when Mumbai Indians chose veteran Yuvraj Singh over Ishan Kishan for their IPL 2019 opener against Delhi Capitals. After 40 overs of cricket, it was the anticipators and the Mumbai Indians think tank, who had put their faith behind the old warhorse that went home with a smile on their face despite ending up on the losing side. Yuvraj Singh had waged a lone battle, top-scoring for MI with 53 off 35 balls. He had even torn into Axar Patel, hitting the left-arm spinner for three sixes in his four overs. Despite all this, one could sense the dissatisfaction of the doubters. They were not vocal alright but were definitely waiting for an opportunity. “Let’s see what he does in the next match,” whispers could be heard loud and clear.

On Thursday in Mumbai’s second game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Yuvraj did not outscore many of the MI batters like he did a couple of nights ago, nor did he do something an Andre Russell is doing on a regular basis for KKR. But there was enough in his 12-ball stay to take one back to Adelaide of 2004 or Durban of 2007. Yuvraj hit Yuzvendra Chahal for a hat-trick of sixes, giving rise to hopes of a repeat of Durban 2007 when he rewrote the record books by hitting Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over. But it wasn’t to be as he was holed out at long off in the fourth delivery of the over for 23.

Here’s how the action unfolded at Chinnaswamy

13.1 SIX! That is huge! He has really hit that hard. Yes, it is a poor ball but it still has to be put away. Short and on middle, Yuvraj goes back and pulls it over the square leg fence.

13.2 SIX! Back-to-back maximums! Yuvraj Singh is on fire here. What a clean hit. Chahal gives it air this time but lands it very full on off. Yuvraj hits it over the bowler's head. The connection is such that it goes all the way.

13.3: SIX! High and handsome! Three in a row! Another poor ball. Short and outside off, Yuvraj goes back and powers it over the long on stands. Will he now make it 4 in 4 here?

And then the mood-killer

13.4: OUT! No, he does not! He does look to go for it but falls in the attempt to do so. Chahal is brave enough to toss it up outside off. It may have been the googly. Yuvraj looks to clear long off this time but does not get it off the middle. It goes towards the fielder there. Siraj for a second seems to have misjudged it but then takes it with both his hands raised above his head. Also, a tumble after that. Chahal gets his second and Yuvraj walks back disappointed. Not sure if he needed to go for another, but such is the format, you feel like going after every delivery no matter how many you got in the bag already.