'Wasn't feeling respected. It was hurting': Yuvraj Singh reveals real reason behind his retirement

In a candid conversation, former World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh recently opened up about what triggered his international retirement. The legendary all-rounder officially retired from all formats in June 2019, a decision that followed his exclusion from India's squad for that year's ODI World Cup. After a career defined by high-stakes performances and resilience, the lack of a call-up for the flagship tournament served as a definitive turning point for his future in the sport.

Yuvraj Singh explains painful reason behind his international retirement

While appearing on a podcast hosted by Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza, Yuvraj explained that his decision was as much about his mental state as it was about his physical form. Yuvraj revealed that toward the end of his tenure, he no longer felt the level of respect to sustain his motivation. He ultimately concluded that after a storied career, highlighted by his 2011 World Cup heroics, he had nothing left to prove to the world, making it the right moment to walk away on his own terms.

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"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? Why am I lingering on to something that I'm not enjoying? Why do I need to play? 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 said.

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I don't take it personally, but my father took it personally: Yuvraj on Sidhu's remark

Yuvraj also reflected on a pivotal moment from his teenage years when his cricketing future seemed uncertain. During that formative period, former cricketer and current commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu expressed doubts that the young left-hander had what it took to succeed at the highest level. The dismissive remarks did not sit well with Yuvraj’s father, Yograj Singh, who took the former India opener’s critique as a personal affront. Known for his intense and disciplined approach to his son’s training, Yograj used the slight as fuel, intensifying Yuvraj’s preparation to prove the skeptics wrong. This early friction ultimately became a cornerstone of Yuvraj's journey, driving him to transform from a doubted teenager into one of India’s greatest match-winners.

"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," he added.