Yuvraj Singh’s international career is remembered for its brilliance, resilience, and match-winning impact, but the final phase of his journey was marked by inner conflict and emotional exhaustion. One of India’s finest white-ball cricketers, Yuvraj played a defining role in the country’s triumphs at the 2007 ICC World T20 and the 2011 ODI World Cup. Yet, despite the accolades and legacy, the joy of playing the game slowly faded toward the end of his career.
Yuvraj’s crowning moment came at the 2011 World Cup, where he was named Player of the Tournament as India became the first team to lift the trophy on home soil. The achievement carried even greater weight when it was later revealed that he had battled cancer throughout the tournament, displaying extraordinary mental and physical strength. However, the standards he set during his peak years also became a burden as age and injuries caught up.
With time, criticism grew louder, and Yuvraj Singh began to feel that the backing and respect he once enjoyed were slipping away. The pressure of expectations, combined with the physical toll of the game, forced him to reflect deeply on his future. Eventually, that introspection led to a decision that many athletes struggle to make — walking away.
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“I was not enjoying my game,” Yuvraj Singh told Sania Mirza on her YouTube channel. “I had a feeling that why am I playing cricket when I’m not enjoying it? I was not feeling supported. I was not feeling respected.”
https://t.co/OkYFX5hueh ‘I was not feeling respected’ – Yuvraj Singh recalls decision to retire from cricket –
Yuvraj Singh (Source: Serving it Up with Sania/YouTube)
Former World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh has recently… pic.twitter.com/aU32oJ7jlJ
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He went on to explain the emotional weight of continuing without fulfillment. “Why am I lingering on to something that I’m not enjoying? Why do I need to play? To prove what? I can’t do more than this, mentally or physically, and it was hurting me. And the day I stopped, I was myself again,” he added.
While Yuvraj Singh eventually became a modern-day great, his journey was not without early doubts. Former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu once questioned his potential when Yuvraj was still a teenager. Looking back, Yuvraj harbours no resentment toward Sidhu, understanding the context of the remark.
“Now, when I look back at it, I just think he didn’t have the time to have a proper look at me,” Yuvraj Singh recalled. “I was 13-14 at that time, just figuring out a sport. I don’t take it personally.”
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His father, Yograj Singh, however, reacted differently. Taking the comment as a challenge, he pushed Yuvraj Singh harder than ever. “He said, ‘Chal beta, main tujhe batata hoon cricket kaise khelte hain,’” Yuvraj said with a smile.
That response, driven by belief and determination, played a crucial role in shaping a career that would inspire millions and leave an enduring mark on Indian cricket history.
