India cricketer Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Monday.
The stylish southpaw who played a vital role in India's 2011 World Cup winning campaign thanked his team-mates and said that it was an honour to represent the country.
"I can't put it in words, I will try. After 25 years, and in 22 yards and 17 years of international cricket. I have decided to move on," he said at a plush hotel in Mumbai.
"Cricket has given me everything and it was a love hate relationship in retrospect. I can't express in words how that feeling is. I have failed more times than I succeeded, but I gave my gave my blood and sweat when it came to playing for country.
My life has been a roller coaster ride. Next focus is to help cancer patients at youwecan."
Yuvraj further said that he would have liked to played the IPL final but nevertheless, he has no regrets.
"I was not getting success, not enough opportunities. It was a long time in ground. I started in 2000, it was 19 years. I was confused with my career. I would have gone in a satisfactory note had I played the IPL final," he said.
Remembering some of his highs and lows, he said, "I would say I am extremely lucky to play 400-plus games for India. I would have not imagined doing this when I started my career as a cricketer. Through this journey, some matches that remain in my memory are - the 2002 NatWest series final, my first Test hundred in Lahore in 2004, the 2007 Test series in England, of course the six sixes and the 2007 T20 World Cup. And then the most memorable one was the 2011 World Cup final."
"And then, probably the worst day in my career, was the 2014 World T20 final against Sri Lanka. It was so shattering that I felt my career was over," Yuvraj said.
Yuvraj further said that he found 'great friends and seniors' while playing for India and thanked his former captains and selectors.
"Cricket has given me great friends and seniors. I started under Sourav Ganguly, played with idol Sachin Tendulkar, legends like Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Javagal Srinath and winning the World Cup in 2011 under the leadership of MS Dhoni.
I would like to thank the selectors and Ganguly who gave me an opportunity especially Chandu borde, TA Sekhar and others. I think it's a perfect day to move on."
Yuvraj further said that he would like to play in global T20 leagues.
"I can play fun cricket I will go and enjoy cricket. Have a fun there. I have had a word with BCCI and I will speak again after announcement. Hopefully it will be a smooth sailing," he said.
When asked if he consulted anyone before taking the call, Yuvraj said, "I spoke to Zak, (Zaheer Khan)Viru (Virender Sehwag), Ashish (Ashish Nehra), Sachin (Sachin Tendulkar), Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh)about moving on. I told Sachin during IPL about moving on. He told me that you have to decide."
He further said that although he enjoyed playing for India, his only regret was not playing more Test matches.
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