Yuvraj Singh deserved a better farewell, says India vice-captain Rohit Sharma

Yuvraj Singh announced retirement from international cricket on June 10 but India's star opener Rohit Sharma said that middle-order batsman deserved a better send-off. 

"I have decided to move on. Cricket has given me everything and that's why I am standing here," he said after being reduced to tears by a video of the highlights of his career. 

Rohit praised Yuvraj Singh's roller-coaster career and wrote, "You don't know what you got till its gone. Love you brotherman. You deserved a better send-off."

Yuvraj played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is for India. 

He put together 1900 runs in the longest format, and 8701 in the one-dayers, the format in which he enjoyed the most success. 

His one-day runs tally places him 22nd in the overall list, and seventh among Indians.

He is among the Indian greats who did not get a farewell game after contemporaries Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Gautam Gambhir.

After he announced his retirement in Mumbai on Monday, Yuvraj revealed that he was promised a farewell game by the BCCI provided he failed the 'Yo-Yo' fitness test.

However, he passed it and the swansong never happened.

"Mujhe bola gaya tha agar aapse 'Yo-Yo' test pass nahi hota toh aap retirement match khel sakate ho (I was told that if you are not able to pass the 'Yo-Yo' test, I would get a farewell game)," the 37-year-old said at an emotional press conference to announce his decision to quit international cricket to pursue a freelance T20 career internationally.

"I did not tell anyone in BCCI that I have to play the last match. Agar main accha tha, potential tha toh main ground pe se chale jaata. (If I was good enough, I would have retired from the ground). Aur mujhe is tarha ki cricket khelna pasand nahi hai, ki mujhe ek match chahiye (I don't like to ask for a game, I have never played the game with that mindset)," he said. 

"Toh maine us time bola ki mujhe retirement match nahi chahiye, 'Yo-Yo' test pass nahi hoga toh main chup chhap ghar chale jayunga? 'Yo-Yo' test pass kiya and then rest is not my call," Yuvraj said.

 The 37-year-old, who announced his retirement here after almost 17 years of international cricket, last played for India in June 2017.