Yuvraj Singh exposes ex-India teammates years after retirement: ‘I wasn’t supported and felt disrespected'

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is often known as one of the bravest characters in Indian cricket. He fought cancer and then returned to play his favourite sport again, but in an honest conversation with former Tennis superstar Sania Mirza, he revealed his biggest nightmare that made him quit playing cricket.

His story has truly been inspiring to many. From being a young lad taking a dig into the game to being one of the world's most legendary white-ball all-rounders. Yuvraj Singh has done it all in his career. He was part of India's two World Cup squads in 2003 and 2011 when they made it to the finals of the competition.

Born to the former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh, Yuvraj was a high-end athlete from the start and soon broke into the Indian team as a young cricketer. Awarded the Arjuna award and the Padma Shri, he is one of the most decorated cricketers from the country.

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What made Yuvraj Singh give up on his Cricket career?

Yuvraj Singh made a recent appearance on a podcast alongside the former Indian Tennis Star Sania Mirza and spoke out about his discomfort with ease. Yuvraj has always been a bold character who doesn't shy away from revealing anything about himself.

On being asked about what marked the end of such a glorious career, the former all-rounder did not cite a poor series or a rough phase, or not getting runs off the bat. He rather suggested that it was mentally and physically draining, which started making him feel the sport as an obligation rather than something he used to love.

“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. And I felt, why do I need to do this when I don’t have this? 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,” Yuvraj Singh said.

"I don’t take it personally, but my father took it personally” - Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh's confession was a true insight into the rather glamorous life that is often hidden behind the spotlight of the elite sport. In the same conversation, Yuvraj Singh also went on to refer to an incident from his teenage days.

Through Yograj Singh's claims, it was reported that a former Indian cricketer had posed doubts about Yuvraj's ability in the sport when he was 13-14 years old. Someone who did not have very good relations with the cricketer's father. To this, Yuvraj Singh remarked:

“Now, when I look back at it, I just think he didn’t have the time to have a proper look at me. He was just like being nice to my dad. Then obviously, he was playing for India at that time, so he probably would have said that. I was 13-14 at that time, just figuring out a sport. I don’t take it personally, but my father took it personally.”

Yuvraj Singh's glorious career in tricolours

The Indian left-handed all-rounder had a startling career for India. The Punjab-born cricketer made his debut for India in the year 2000, at the age of 18 years and then went on to play in the tricoloured jersey for 17 long years.

Having played for India through its golden years, Yuvraj was a major contributor to India's success. He amassed 8701 runs in 304 ODI matches in the middle order for India, along with 111 wickets to his name. Also playing in T20Is, he amassed 1177 runs in 58 matches and picked 29 wickets with the ball.

The dynamic cricketer had a short Test career and scored 1900 runs in 40 Test matches and picked 10 wickets with the red ball. In his glorious career, he won the ICC World Cup in 2011, the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, and the Champions Trophy in 2002 and was also the runner-up on several occasions.

The Man of the tournament from the 2011 CWC was the highest-paid cricketer in the IPL on three occasions.

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