Yuvraj Singh's Stunning Confession On Why He Retired: 'I Did Not Feel Respected'

Yuvraj Singh wasn’t enjoying playing cricket during the final phase of his professional career, so much so that he began questioning the logic behind his persistence. Yuvraj is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have played white-ball cricket for India, and his contributions were critical to the team winning the 2007 ICC World T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup.

In fact, Yuvraj famously won player-of-the-tournament award at the 2011 World Cup as India became the first team in history to win the title at home. What made his contribution even more memorable was the revelation later on that he was silently battling cancer during that phase.

However, the benchmarks that Yuvraj had created at his peak and the loads of expectations eventually

began taking their toll as age caught up. The criticism that followed made Yuvraj feel he wasn’t being backed and respected anymore.

And that forced him to call time on his playing career.

“I was not enjoying my game,” Yuvraj 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. And I felt, why do I need to do this when I don’t have this? The game has given me so much, I’ve given my best.”

“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.

Yuvraj may have become a legend of the game, but there was a time when doubts were cast over his talent and former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu had written him off.

Yuvraj, who was still in his early teens when Navjot made the observation, has no bitter feelings. However, his father Yograj took it personally.

“Now, when I look back at it, I just think he (Navjot) didn’t have the time to have a proper look at me. He was just like being nice to my dad. Then obviously, he was playing for India at that time, so he probably would have said that. I was 13-14 at that time, just figuring out a sport. I don’t take it personally, but my father took it personally. He said Chal beta mein tujhe batata hoon cricket kaise khelte hain (I will teach you how cricket is played),” Yuvraj recalled.