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India cricketing legend Yuvraj Singh admitted that during the final years of his career, he had very little clarity about his future with India. He revealed that it was a conversation with MS Dhoni that gave him perspective and helped him understand his situation better.
Speaking to Vikrant Gupta on a SportsTak podcast, Yuvraj emphasised that players nearing the end of their careers, especially those who have contributed significantly to Indian cricket, deserve honesty and clarity about their standing in the team.
The Importance of Clear Communication
The discussion also touched on the futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Yuvraj stressed that team management and selectors should take the responsibility to communicate clearly with senior players, even if the conversations are tough.
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“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.
Struggles After World Cup Glory
Yuvraj’s career highlights include three ICC World Cups in 2003, 2007, and 2011, with him being named Player of the Tournament in India’s victorious 2011 campaign. He played that tournament while battling cancer and helped India lift the trophy after 28 years.
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Afterwards, Yuvraj was diagnosed with a rare germ cell cancer in his lungs and underwent chemotherapy in Boston. Many believed it would end his career, but he made a remarkable comeback a few months later.
However, the later years of his career were marked by inconsistency and fewer opportunities. He eventually fell out of favour with selectors, missing the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, despite performing well at times, including a career-best 150 against England in Cuttack.
Lack of Clarity Left Him Unsure
Yuvraj said that during this period, the lack of communication left him unsure about his next steps.
“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,” he said.
It was a phone conversation with Dhoni that helped him see things more clearly.
“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,” Yuvraj said.
Willing to Fight Till the End
Despite the uncertainty, Yuvraj maintained that he was ready to fight for his place and meet team management standards.
“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 added.
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