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India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who once bludgeoned Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over, has announced his retirement from international cricket.
Yuvraj took the player of the tournament gong during India's surge to 2011 World Cup glory, following which he was diagnosed with lung cancer but made a comeback after treatment.
His last match for India was two years ago and, following 40 Tests, 304 one-day internationals and 58 Twenty20s, he has decided to officially bow out.
Cricket has given me everything I have and is the reason why I stand here today. It was such a love-hate relationship with the sport. In retrospect, I don't think I hated this game because the love I have for it today which will remain constant until the end of life. I can't really explain it in words what is that feeling, this game taught me how to fight, how to fall, to dust myself off, to get up again and move forward.I have failed more times than I have succeeded but I never gave up and will never give up till my last breath, and that's what cricket taught me. I gave my blood and sweat to the game, once I got into it, especially when it came to represent my country.And to my true fans who have always supported me endlessly, I can't thank you enough specially when the times were tough.I never stopped believing in myself, no matter what the world said. Believe in yourself because if you put your heart & soul into it you can achieve the impossible.The adrenaline rush for playing for India, singing the national anthem before each game, touching the Indian flag, stopping every run for the team or scoring every run for the team was a completely different high. Thank You once again for this lovely journey See you on the other side. #SteppingOut Posted by Yuvraj Singh on Monday, June 10, 2019
At a press conference broadcast on his Facebook page in Mumbai, the scene of India's win over Sri Lanka in the World Cup final eight years ago, Yuvraj said: "This it for me.
"After 25 years, in and around 22 yards and almost 17 years of international cricket all in all, I have decided to move on.
"Cricket has given me everything I have and is the reason why I stand here. This game taught me how to fight, how to fall, to dust myself off, to get up again, to move forward.
"You always have to move forward in life and I think this is right time to go.
"This is the ground where I experienced the best high of my career and there is no better place to end it. It's time to say goodbye and walk away.
"It was a great roller coaster ride and a beautiful story but it has to come to an end."
Happy retirement, Pie Chucker. A quite remarkable career with plenty highs and some pretty brutal lows. You showed resilience, courage & pure brilliance throughout your time wearing blue! Love ya, @YUVSTRONG12! — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) June 10, 2019
One of Yuvraj's more memorable moments during an illustrious career was his savaging of a 21-year-old Broad in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007, which India won, hitting the England seamer for 36 in an over.
Broad was among those to pay tribute to the destructive left-handed batsman and slow left armer, posting a picture of the two on Instagram alongside the caption: "Enjoy retirement Legend"
Kevin Pietersen, whose weakness against left-arm spin during his career was well-publicised, referenced his pet nickname for Yuvraj, as he wrote on Twitter: "Happy retirement, Pie Chucker.
"A quite remarkable career with plenty highs and some pretty brutal lows. You showed resilience, courage and pure brilliance throughout your time wearing blue! Love ya, @YUVSTRONG12!"
Congratulations on a wonderful career playing for the country paji. You gave us so many memories and victories and I wish you the best for life and everything ahead. Absolute champion. @YUVSTRONG12 pic.twitter.com/LXSWNSQXog — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 10, 2019
India captain Virat Kohli tweeted: "Congratulations on a wonderful career playing for the country paji. You gave us so many memories and victories and I wish you the best for life and everything ahead. Absolute champion. @YUVSTRONG12"
International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Manu Sawhney said in a statement: "Yuvraj had an outstanding international career. He was one of those players who could raise his game in crunch situations and excelled at ICC events time after time.
"He has been an inspiration both on and off the field and given so much joy to millions of fans the world over.
"I have no doubt that Yuvraj is a hero not just in the cricketing world but outside of it too. On behalf of the ICC, I congratulate Yuvraj for his superb career and wish him all the best for the future."
