New Delhi: Cricket legend Yuvraj Singh has dropped a bombshell on why he quit international cricket in 2019, citing lack of respect and support that eroded his passion for the game.
In a candid podcast with Sania Mirza aired this week, the 2011 World Cup hero confessed: “I was not enjoying my game. 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.”
Reflecting on his post-2017 phase after ODI World Cup snub, Yuvraj said: “…I felt, why do I need to d
o this when I don’t have this? 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.”
Officially, Yuvraj retired on June 10, 2019, after the IPL auction snub, ending a 17-year career with 40 Tests, 304 ODIs, 58 T20Is, 11,778 runs, and 148 wickets. His career highlights include six sixes off Stuart Broad (2007 T20 WC), Player of Tournament (2011 WC), and cancer comeback. Yet, behind glory lay pain — selectors’ indifference post-cancer, echoing teen-era snub by former Test cricketer Navjot Sidhu that irked father Yograj.
Yuvraj’s revelation has stunned fans and experts alike; reactions flooded social media. “Yuvi deserved better,” tweeted Michael Vaughan.
Yuvraj, now mentoring via YouWeCan, also emphasised mental health: “Nothing left to prove after 400+ games,” he added.