Knockout match of any World Cup puts the highest amount of pressure on an athlete. It does not matter if it is a cricket, football or hockey World Cup, the pressure in do-or-die matches is at the peak. It is not everyone’s cup of tea to perform well in such matches. Even the greatest names in world cricket have faltered at the grandest stage of them all when it mattered the most.
On the other side, there have been such players who always stepped up and delivered the goods for their team at the grand stage.
In the long history of ODI and T20 World Cups, there have been only three such Indian players who have smacked a half-century in knockout matches. Here’s a list of those three names:
1. Gautam Gambhir – Scored 50 in knockout match of T20 World Cup 2007 and World Cup 2011
Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was one of the biggest reasons why India became the world champions in 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 Cricket World Cup. The left-handed batter whacked a half-century for the Men in Blue in the 2007 T20 WC Final against Pakistan and 2011 WC Final against Sri Lanka.
2. Yuvraj Singh – Scored 50 in knockout match of T20 World Cup 2007 and World Cup 2011
Another Indian opener who has accomplished this unique feat is former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. The left-handed batter achieved the record against the mighty Australian side in the 2007 T20 World Cup semifinals and against the same opponents in the 2011 WC quarterfinals.
3. Harmanpreet Kaur
The only Indian women’s cricketer to feature on this list is the current Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. She scored a half-century in a losing cause against Australia Women in the semifinals of Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. Before that, she scored a half-century in a losing cause against England Women in Women’s World Cup 2017 Final.
