India cricketer Yuvraj Singh on Sunday announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket. The left-handed batsman, who made his international debut in an ODI match against Kenya in October 2000, went on to play 304 ODIs, 40 Tests and 58 T20Is for the side.
“After 25 years, I have dec’ided 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 here.
“I was extremely lucky to play 400 games for India. I could have never imagined it when I first started playing cricket,” he added.
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Yuvraj played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is for India. He put together 1900 runs in the longest format, and 8701 in the one-dayers, the format in which he enjoyed most success.
“Cricket has given me everything and that’s the reason why I am standing here today. It’s been a love-hate relationship with the sport in retrospect,” he added.
The southpaw reminisced the 2011 World Cup triumph, being man of the match in the event’s final, getting six sixes in an over against England in the same tournament and his first Test hundred, against Pakistan in Lahore in 2004, as the three moments which were most special to him.
{{/usCountry}}The southpaw reminisced the 2011 World Cup triumph, being man of the match in the event’s final, getting six sixes in an over against England in the same tournament and his first Test hundred, against Pakistan in Lahore in 2004, as the three moments which were most special to him.
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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.
However, his cricketing form had been on the decline, as he last played for India back in 2017. His last Test appearance was back in 2012.
“Thank you this has been a lovely journey. See you on the other side,” he said, adding that he would continue devoting his time to assisting cancer patients through his ‘YouWeCan’ foundation.