Australia shed sweat and even blood in a desperate bid to prolong their 12-year reign as world champions but Yuvraj Singh's Midas touch sustained India's billion dreams in Thursday's see-saw quarter-final.
The 29-year-old southpaw claimed 2-44 and returned to smash an unbeaten 57 to script India's five-wicket victory that set up a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Pakistan on Wednesday.
He collected his fourth man-of-the-match trophy in the tournament and the left-hander reckoned he probably is going through the best phase of his career.
"I think so," Yuvraj told a news conference after receiving a standing ovation from the assembled media.
"Earlier, whatever I was touching was turning into mud. Definitely things have changed," he said, referring to his bad patch prior to the tournament.
Yuvraj said he was playing the tournament for a "special person".
"That I will tell you if we reach the final," he said, refusing to reveal the identity of the mystery person.
Ricky Ponting's 30th one-day international century in what was probably his last World Cup match powered the four-times champions to 260-6 and India initially produced a fumbling response despite half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar (53) and Gautam Gambhir (50).
Brett Lee's dive to save a boundary that left him with a nasty cut near his eyebrow and a bloodied cheek symbolised Australia's desperation but Yuvraj's unbeaten 74-run partnership with Suresh Raina ended a glorious Australian era.
Ponting, however, disagreed.
"I don't think so. I think it's premature to say that it was an era in cricket. It was a brilliant game tonight... against a very good Indian side on their home soil," he said.
The 29-year-old southpaw claimed 2-44 and returned to smash an unbeaten 57 to script India's five-wicket victory that set up a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Pakistan on Wednesday.
He collected his fourth man-of-the-match trophy in the tournament and the left-hander reckoned he probably is going through the best phase of his career.
"I think so," Yuvraj told a news conference after receiving a standing ovation from the assembled media.
"Earlier, whatever I was touching was turning into mud. Definitely things have changed," he said, referring to his bad patch prior to the tournament.
Yuvraj said he was playing the tournament for a "special person".
"That I will tell you if we reach the final," he said, refusing to reveal the identity of the mystery person.
Ricky Ponting's 30th one-day international century in what was probably his last World Cup match powered the four-times champions to 260-6 and India initially produced a fumbling response despite half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar (53) and Gautam Gambhir (50).
Brett Lee's dive to save a boundary that left him with a nasty cut near his eyebrow and a bloodied cheek symbolised Australia's desperation but Yuvraj's unbeaten 74-run partnership with Suresh Raina ended a glorious Australian era.
Ponting, however, disagreed.
"I don't think so. I think it's premature to say that it was an era in cricket. It was a brilliant game tonight... against a very good Indian side on their home soil," he said.
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