Yuvraj Singh, who played a key role in India's 2011 World Cup win, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Monday, after serving Indian cricket for 19 years. The 37-year-old, however, will be available for overseas franchise-based leagues. The all-rounder featured in 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is for India. He donned the India colours for the last time in 2017 as an indifferent form and injury issues forced him out of national reckoning.
Even though he continued playing in the domestic circuit for Punjab and also featured in the Indian Premier League in the last two years, he was a shadow of his former self. "I can't put it in words, I will try. After 25 years, and in 22 yards and 17 years of international cricket. I have decided to move on," he said.
" Cricket has given me everything and it was a love hate relationship in retrospect. I can't express in words how that feeling is. I have failed more times than I succeeded, but I gave my blood and sweat when it came to playing for country. My life has been a roller coaster ride. Next focus is to help cancer patients at youwecan," he added.
Son of former India cricketer, Yograj Singh, Yuvraj was part of India's U-19 team which won the World Cup in 2000. In the same year, he broke into the senior national team and made his debut for India in the ICC Knock-out Trophy in Kenya in 2000. He played a knock of 84 against Australia which had Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie in its ranks. That gritty innings defined Yuvraj's class. In his long and illustrious career, Yuvraj also enjoyed the feat of hitting England's Stuart Broad for six sixes during a World T20 fixture in South Africa in 2007.
