Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has claimed that between 2017 and 2019, he received "zero clarity" from the team management, including then-captain Virat Kohli, coach Ravi Shastri, or the National Cricket Academy (NCA), regarding his standing in the team.

In a recent appearance on the Sports Tak Podcast, Yuvraj emphasized that legends like Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag, and Harbhajan Singh also lacked clear communication at the end of their careers.

“I feel that those who are at the end of their careers need clarity. I didn’t get it, neither did Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag or Harbhajan Singh. The captain, coach or selector, whoever it may be, should sit with the player and explain how they see things. The conversation may not go well, but at least the effort is made,” Yuvraj said.

Yuvraj revealed that a phone conversation with MS Dhoni provided him with the real picture regarding his international career. He appreciated Dhoni’s honesty, noting that the veteran wicketkeeper had "nothing to gain" but gave him the necessary perspective to understand the reality.

“For example, when I went through my own situation, I had zero clarity. There was no clarity from the National Cricket Academy, no clarity from the captain or coach. I was stuck at 36, going on 37, wondering what to do next. At the very least, if someone has played so much cricket, they deserve respect,” Yuvraj stated.

“I spoke to MS Dhoni. We spoke over the phone. He gave me the right perspective. He had nothing to gain, but he could see what was going on,” he added.

Yuvraj mentioned he was told to consider retirement upon failing a fitness test. The southpaw responded by saying he would decide his own retirement. He subsequently passed the test but was still overlooked.

“I was told that if I couldn’t pass the fitness test, I should consider retirement. I said I would decide my retirement myself. I passed the fitness test, and then it was up to them whether they wanted to pick me or not. If not, I would move on. At that point, I wasn’t enjoying my game either,” he remarked.

In the same interview, Yuvraj urged current management to have these difficult conversations with senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of the 2027 World Cup to ensure they receive the respect they deserve.

“I don't know what is going on in Rohit and Virat's minds. It looks like they're thinking of the World Cup. But I think that's the call they and the selectors need to take. There has to be clarity. You should be able to sit in a room and discuss things. It's tough. If someone tells you they are looking ahead, you won't be able to take it, but one year down the line, you'd appreciate that someone gave you clarity,” Yuvraj said.