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Regular-article-logo Sunday, 05 May 2024

Yuvraj Singh retires from international cricket

'It was a love-hate relationship with this game. This game taught me to fight,' says the one-time aggressive left-hander who has fought cancer

PTI Mumbai Published 10.06.19, 09:12 AM
'I was extremely lucky to play 400 games for India. I could have never imagined it when I first started playing cricket,' Yuvraj Singh said.

'I was extremely lucky to play 400 games for India. I could have never imagined it when I first started playing cricket,' Yuvraj Singh said. Telegraph file photo

Fighting back tears, Yuvraj Singh on Monday announced retirement from international cricket.

He ended a 'rollercoaster' career during which he became the hero of India's 2011 World Cup triumph and then fought a gritty battle with cancer.

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'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 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 said.

Yuvraj played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is for India. He got 1,900 runs in Tests, and 8,701 in one-dayers, in which he enjoyed the most success.

'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 have succeeded and I will never give up,' he said.

The attacking left-hander listed the 2011 World Cup triumph when he was the match in the 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 special moments of his career.

The battle with cancer soon after the 2011 World Cup triumph was perhaps the biggest challenge he encountered. 'I was not going to let that disease defeat me,' he said.

Yuvra's cricketing form had been on the wane for a while. He last played for India in a T20 against England in 2017. His last Test appearance was in 2012.

He turned up for Mumbai Indians in this year's IPL but didn't get many chances.

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