The tale involving Lalit Modi, Yuvraj Singh and the much-talked-about Porsche 911 has become one of modern Indian cricket’s best-known legends. The popular version of events claims that the IPL founder made a promise to any Indian batsman who would smash six consecutive maximums in a single over during the inaugural 2007 World T20—an extraordinary feat in T20 cricket—only for Yuvraj to pull it off after taking a liking to Stuart Broad in Durban.
What the legend says about the 2007 World T20
Fans have often repeated the story as a neat snapshot of how T20 evolved into a flashier, glossier spectacle—an offshoot of the traditional game, powered by Modi’s vision and the IPL’s larger ambition. Yet, the real question has always been whether the tall tale matched what happened behind the scenes.
Yuvraj, revisiting the conversation on the Overlap Cricket podcast with Michael Vaughan, offered his own account of the promise—and suggested that his expectations went beyond the car initially mentioned.
Yuvraj’s version: the Porsche promise and the “upgrade” talk
Speaking about how the story had resurfaced repeatedly online, Yuvraj explained that Modi’s claim sparked a direct question from him. In his telling, he asked where the promised vehicle was, even while realizing that the situation might allow him to push for a better deal.
Yuvraj described the exchange in a way that made the negotiation sound almost inevitable. He said that the promise was framed around six sixes, and that when the discussion moved toward the consequences of performance, he tried to leverage the next match as bargaining power.
- Yuvraj said he kept hearing the story on social media and that Modi told him a Porsche 911 would be the reward for hitting six sixes.
- He added that he responded by asking where his Porsche was, before thinking the moment could be used to seek a higher prize.
- Yuvraj explained he then posed a follow-up: if he won the next game for India, would he receive an upgrade—specifically mentioning a Ferrari as the higher tier.
- He said Modi shut that idea down, stating that the reward would remain a Porsche.
The deal they settled on—and what Yuvraj actually received
In the end, Yuvraj said the two sides reached a compromise. He did not get the Ferrari he had floated, but he was allowed to choose another car. The outcome, in his words, still reflected the core promise—one that mattered because both men played significant roles in the modern landscape of Indian cricket.
Yuvraj’s closing note was that he was able to swap the option and secure a BMW M5 in India, while also emphasizing that Modi delivered on his word.
- Yuvraj said he did not get the Ferrari he asked for, but the arrangement allowed him to select a different car.
- He confirmed he chose a BMW M5 in India.
- He said Modi followed through and delivered as promised.
The cricketing moment that made the promise unforgettable
While the car legend continues to draw attention, Yuvraj’s on-field achievement remains the real reason the story endures. His barrage of sixes on the way to a 12-ball half-century against a young Stuart Broad for England’s side in that tournament is widely remembered as one of the defining highlights of his career.
Yuvraj’s landmark innings came as India moved toward success in the competition that year, and it was followed by another major all-round display in 2011. Put together, those big-match contributions paint the picture of a player who was built for moments like this—so the question of whether he should have expected a larger prize from Modi feels almost secondary.
For many, the answer is simple: if Yuvraj was always ready to rise to the occasion, then Modi’s bet—however legendary the retelling—was ultimately met by the man most capable of delivering it.
