Yuvraj Singh: A journey of ups and downs

Yuvraj Singh retired from international cricket on June 10, 2019

Yuvraj Singh has called time on his international cricket career with immediate effect. Although he said that he will look to play on in Twenty20 leagues around the world. 

In 2000, the all-rounder Yuvraj Singh made his international debut against Kenya when was selected in the Indian squad for the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy after his impressive performances for the Under-19 team.  

In the first match, he did not get a chance to bat but in the quarter-final match against Australia, Yuvraj won the Man of the Match for his innings of 84 (80). 

In 2000, Yuvraj was dropped from the national team after a poor performance during the one-day series against touring Zimbabwe. 

Although, he made his comeback during the 2001 Coca-Cola Cup in Sri Lanka and was a vital cog for the team. 

He left an impact after his terrific performance in 2001 against  Zimbabwe. 

Yuvraj scored his maiden ODI century (102* from 85 balls) against Bangladesh at Dhaka on 11 April 2003. 

In his career, he made 14 centuries and 52 half-centuries in ODI and three centuries and 11 fifties in Test format. 

In T20 Internationals, he made eight half-centuries. 

He was the Man of the Tournament in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and one of the top performers at the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, both of which India won.

He scored 362 runs in nine matches at a staggering average of 90.50 with one century and four half-centuries. 

In 2011, Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with right lung cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatment in Boston and Indianapolis. 

Yuvraj made an emotional return to the game in 2012 after a lengthy fight with a rare germ cell cancer in his lungs and played the last of his 40 tests that same year.

"He vomited blood one day before of the finals which indicated seriousness of his cancer. I said that I will inform to the team management about this to which Yuvi said, even if he dies the next day it doesn’t matter as long as he is alive to play the finals and win it," said Harbhajan Singh. 

Yuvraj started his Indian Premier League career with Kings XI Punjab and was also team's skipper for the first two seasons. 

Part of the victorious Mumbai Indians squad in the recently completed Indian Premier League, Yuvraj played in only four matches during the 2019 campaign. 

That would be his last foray in the IPL, he confirmed, but he would seek release from the Indian board to play in other, lower profile, Twenty20 leagues. 

He was also one of the top performers at the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 that India won by defeating Pakistan in final. 

The most highlighted innings of his career remained the famous six sixes in one over bowled by Stuart Broad against England during 2007 World Twenty20.

For Indian cricket team, Yuvraj was one of the athletic fielders. He has taken several stunning catches and his fielding position used to be at point and covers with a good aim at the stumps. 

With the help of dives and jumps, he has saved many boundaries for India. 

Yuvraj is a slow left-arm orthodox and has taken 111 wickets in his ODI career and 28 wickets in T20 International. 

For his contribution in sports, Yuvraj was conferred with the Arjuna Award in In 2012 which is second highest sporting award by the Government of India. 

In 2014, he was awarded the Padma Shri which is India's fourth highest civilian honour.