Yuvraj Singh says U-turn in his selection despite passing yo-yo test led to retirement

He says he was hurt when the selectors made a U-turn on him after he cleared the yo-yo test.

One of the all-time greats of ODI cricket Yuvraj Singh did everything he could to play for India and then more while playing for the Men in Blue. Part of the 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup-winning teams, Yuvraj played the 2011 event with an illness that was later diagnosed as lung cancer.

He returned to cricket after an extensive break during which he defeated the disease and played for 3 more years, with his last major outing coming in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, where he scored good runs. However, after the tournament, he got injured and was never considered for selection again despite passing fitness tests.

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Finally, disappointed at the way he was being treated and clear signs that he won’t be playing for India; Yuvraj called time on his cricket career including IPL.

He says, “Never thought that I would be dropped after being the man of the match in 2 games out of the 8-9 I played after the Champions Trophy 2017. I got injured and I was told to prepare for the Sri Lanka series. Then suddenly, the yo-yo test came into the picture. It was a u-turn in my selection. Suddenly I had to go back and prepare for the yo-yo test at the age of 36. Even after I cleared the yo-yo test, I was told to play domestic cricket. They actually thought that I wouldn't be able to clear the test due to my age. And that it would be easy to decline me afterward...yeah you can say it was an exercise in making excuses.”

He laments the fact that cricketing system in India doesn’t have the courtesy of selection committee sitting with the player and talking to them and letting them know that they have moved on from them and they will not be considered for selection.

"I think it was unfortunate for a guy who has played 15-17 years of international cricket to not being made to sit down and being talked to. No one told me and no one told Virender Sehwag or Zaheer Khan either. Whichever player it is, the person who is in-charge should sit down and talk with the player that we are looking at the youngsters and we've taken this step. This way, you do feel bad at the beginning but at least you give them the credit of being true to your face - something which doesn't happen in Indian cricket. It has been like that forever almost. I have seen it happen to big names. Took it personally then but not now as there is a time for everything to move on and I have made my peace with it," said Yuvraj.

(Inputs from India Today)