New Delhi: Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has spoken candidly about the circumstances that led him to step away from professional cricket, revealing that the final years of his career were marked by self-doubt, emotional strain and a feeling of being undervalued.
In a recent conversation with former tennis star Sania Mirza on her YouTube channel, Yuvraj said the joy he once felt on the field had slowly faded, forcing him to question his purpose in continuing the game. “I wasn’t enjoying myself anymore,” he said, adding that the absence of support and respect took a heavy toll on him mentally.
Yuvraj, one of India’s most celebrated limited-overs players, was instrumental in the country’s historic triumphs at the 2007 ICC World T20 and the 2011 ODI World Cup. His performance in the 2011 tournament remains legendary, not only because he was named Player of the Tournament, but also because it later emerged that he had been battling cancer during the campaign.
Despite those achievements, Yuvraj said the expectations created by his peak years became difficult to live up to as time went on. With age and form becoming subjects of constant scrutiny, criticism began to overshadow his past contributions.
“I kept asking myself why I was still playing when I wasn’t happy,” he said. “I had given everything to the game, but I no longer felt backed or valued. I had reached a point where I couldn’t give more, either physically or mentally, and it was affecting me deeply.”
Yuvraj added that the decision to retire brought a sense of relief. “The moment I stopped, I felt like I had found myself again,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey, the former cricketer also recalled that doubts about his ability surfaced long before his international debut. He mentioned an early comment by ex-India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had reportedly dismissed his potential when Yuvraj was still a teenager.
Looking back, Yuvraj said he holds no resentment. “I was very young, still learning the game. He probably didn’t get the time to really assess me,” he said. However, the remark had a strong impact on his father, Yograj Singh, who took it as a challenge and pushed his son harder. “He told me, ‘Come, I’ll show you how cricket is played,’” Yuvraj recalled.
From battling illness to silencing critics on the world stage, Yuvraj’s career remains one of resilience and brilliance — even if its ending came earlier than many had expected.
