New Delhi:
Indian great Yuvraj Singh, a destructive left-handed batsman and a handy left-arm spinner, on Monday brought down curtains on his cricket career and announced retirement from all formats of the game. Singh, the hero of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph, made the announcement in a press conference in Mumbai. As soon as he made the announcement, wishes poured in from his co-players from around the world. His former teammate Rohit Sharma also tweeted but unlike others, he apparently raised questions on the BCCI's way of handling Yuvraj Singh's retirement.
In his tweet, Rohit said, "You don’t know what you got till its gone. Love you brotherman You deserved a better send off." Yuvraj Singh too responded to Rohit's tweet. "You know how I feel inside! Love u brothaman you go be a legend." Yuvraj Singh said in his reply to Rohit Sharma's tweet.
You don’t know what you got till its gone. Love you brotherman You deserved a better send off. @YUVSTRONG12 pic.twitter.com/PC2cR5jtLl
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) June 10, 2019
During his press conference, Yuvraj Singh did speak about not getting a farewell match. Singh revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had told him that if he failed the Yo Yo fitness test, he would be given a farewell match. However, he passed the test and never got a farewell match.
"I was told that if you are not able to pass the 'Yo-Yo' test, I would get a farewell game. I did not tell anyone in BCCI that I have to play the last match. Agar main accha tha, potential tha toh main ground pe se chale jaata. (If I was good enough, I would have retired from the ground). Aur mujhe is tarha ki cricket khelna pasand nahi hai, ki mujhe ek match chahiye (I don't like to ask for a game, I have never played the game with that mindset)," Yuvraj said during the press conference.
"Toh maine us time bola ki mujhe retirement match nahi chahiye, 'Yo-Yo' test pass nahi hoga toh main chup chhap ghar chale jayunga... 'Yo-Yo' test pass kiya and then rest is not my call (Then i said i don't need retirement match, if i don't pass the Yo-Yo test, i would go home.... i passed the test and then rest is not my call)," he said.
Yuvraj Singh made his international debut for India in 2000. During his 19-year-old career, he played 304 ODIs for India and scored 8,701 runs at an average of 36.55. In the 58 T20I matches he played for the country, Yuvraj Singh scored 1,177 runs at an average of 28.02. In Tests, Yuvraj could not perform up to his potential, and scored just 1900 runs in 40 matches he played. His last appearance in the blue jersey came in an ODI against West Indies in 2017.
