Yuvraj Singh has called it a day by announcing retirement from international cricket. But he will forever remain in the hearts of millions of cricket lovers across the world, especially India. Fighting back tears, Yuvraj Monday announced his retirement, 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 Yuvraj said addressing the media. “I was extremely lucky to play 400 games for India. I could have never imagined it when I first started playing cricket,” he added.
“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 ICC and BCCI have congratulated Yuvraj for an outstanding career after the flamboyant cricketer announced his retirement from international cricket. “Yuvraj had an outstanding international career. He was one of those players who could raise his game in crunch situations and excelled at ICC events time after time. He has been an inspiration both on and off the field and given so much joy to millions of fans the world over,” International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said in a statement.
Yuvraj played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is for India. He put together 1,900 runs in the longest format, and 8,701 in the one-dayers, the format in which he enjoyed most success. The attacking left-hander listed the 2011 World Cup triumph, getting six sixes in an over against England in the 2007 World T20 and his first Test hundred against Pakistan in Lahore in 2004, as the three most special moments of his career. The battle with cancer soon after the 2011 World Cup triumph was perhaps the biggest challenge that he encountered. “I was not going to let that disease defeat me,” he said. He has won the disease besides winning the admiration of fans. The man from Chandigarh will be remembered for giving India two world titles, one while coughing blood and suffering from a rare germ cell cancer. Here’s wishing a peaceful retirement life for him.