Dashing all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, on Monday, announced retirement from international cricket, ending a “rollercoaster” career during which he became the hero of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph and fought a gritty battle with cancer.
“After 25 years, I have decided to move on. Cricket has given me everything and is the reason why I stand here today,” the 37-year-old said while addressing the media in Mumbai.
“I was extremely lucky to play 400 games for India. I could have never imagined it when I first started playing cricket,” he added.
In all, Yuvraj played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is for India in which he scored 1900, 8701 and 1177 runs respectively.
“It was a love-hate relationship with this game. I can’t explain what it really means to me. This game taught me to fight. I have failed more times than I succeeded and I will never give up,” he said.
The battle with cancer soon after the 2011 World Cup triumph was perhaps the biggest challenge that Yuvraj encountered.
“I was not going to let that disease defeat me,” he said.
However, his cricketing form had been on the wane for a while. Yuvraj last played for India in a T20 international against England in 2017. His last Test match appearance was back in 2012.
He was also a part of the victorious Mumbai Indians squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019, the most glamorous and cash-rich T20 league in the world, but played in only four matches during the campaign.
