Ahmedabad, March 24: Yuvraj Singh received his fourth Man-of-the-Match award with yet another stellar performance in the ongoing ICC 2011 World Cup, this time against defending champions Australia. Yuvraj was instrumental in taking India to victory with an unbeaten 57 runs and two wickets to his credit in the knockout game at Motera.

Post-match, he spoke to the media about the incredible win.

Excerpts from the interaction

On hitting a purple patch flush with match-winning performances

I don’t know about a purple patch but the pressure was something else. Playing Australia was high pressure.

On what was going through his mind when Dhoni was out with 70 runs needed to win and five wickets in hand

I knew that there was Suresh [Raina] yet to come. With me and Suresh [we knew we] could get a 30-40 run partnership [going] and we could still take the game till the end. So I just concentrated on hitting the ball down the ground, looking for the gaps and just using [the bowlers’] pace.

On his mix-up with Gautam Gambhir that resulted in the latter’s run-out

I told Gautam [Gambhir] I am no Virender Sehawag, so I can’t run like that (laughs). But I don’t know, maybe it was my fault. I apologised to him. But I think Gauti [Gautam Gambhir] played a crucial knock, [and we] held our nerve till the end and won the match.

On whether this was the best cricket that he had played in a long time

Yeah definitely, last year I [went] through a tough time and coming from that, starting the World Cup, getting fifty, hitting the ball well - I am continuing with my plans of hitting straight and hitting down the ground, batting [with] my instinct and trying to stay till the end and winning the game for my country.

On whether 260 runs was a gettable target

Well, looking at the wicket, 250-260 was going to be a good score. I think [Ricky] Ponting batted outstandingly till the end and Australia hit a good score and we needed small partnerships. We were 100 for two, Sachin [Tendulkar], Gauti [Gautam Gambhir] all batted really well and in the end [my] partnership with Raina took us through.

On whether the pressure at his home ground, Mohali, would be greater

It’s a quarter-final game, people say it’s another game and the whole country wants you to win. Beating Australia, three [consecutive] times world champions, is special. Going into the next game is different but I think this one is really special for me and the team.