India’s big-hitter Yuvraj Singh on Monday announced retirement from international cricket, 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 struggling to hold back tears at a media conference in Mumbai.
"I was extremely lucky to play 400 games for India. I could have never imagined it when I first started playing cricket," the left-handed batsman said. Yuvraj played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is for India. He amassed 1,900 runs in Tests and 8701 in the one-dayers, the format in which he enjoyed the biggest 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 succeeded and I will never give up," he said. The attacking batsman listed 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 century against Pakistan in Lahore in 2004, as the three most special moments of his career.
Yuvraj’s battle with cancer soon after the 2011 World Cup triumph was the biggest challenge that he encountered. "I was not going to let that disease defeat me," he said. However, Yuvraj’s form had been on the slump for a while and he last appeared for India in a T20I against England in 2017. His last Test appearance was back in 2012.