Announcing his retirement from international cricket after ramping up the swagger and style quotient of what used to be a sombre Indian dressing room for 17 years, Yuvraj Singh was flooded with wholesome praise from the cricket community, with close friend-cum-mentor Sachin Tendulkar leading the way.
The Master Blaster, thanking the 37-year-old southpaw for everything he has done for the sport, tweeted, "What a fantastic career you have had Yuvi. You have come out as a true champ everytime the team needed you. The fight you put up through all the ups and downs on and off the field is just amazing. Best of luck for your second innings & thanks for all that you have done for cricket."
READ: 'A true fighter on and off the field' - Tributes pour in for Yuvraj
Yuvraj and Tendulkar together realised their long-cherished dream after they helped India to a World Cup victory in 2011.
The moment of triumph, however, was followed by the shocking revelation that Yuvraj was diagnosed with a rare germ cell cancer. Tendulkar had once said that he was scared of breaking down in front of Yuvraj when they met during the course of his treatment.
“When I saw my wife discussing medical terms with Yuvraj, I realised what he had been going through,” Tendulkar had said at the release of Yuvraj’s book ‘ The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back ’.
“When I went to meet him in London, I was telling my wife that I don’t want to break down when I see him,” Tendulkar said.
Yuvraj played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is for India.
He amassed 1900 runs in the longest format, and 8701 in ODIs, the format in which he enjoyed most success. His one-day runs tally places him 22nd in the overall list, and seventh among Indians.
A useful left-arm spinner, Yuvraj also picked up 111 ODI wickets at an average of 36.55.
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