Yuvraj Singh's old interview sparks fresh debate after Virat Kohli gets blamed for cutting short his career

A recently resurfaced interview with former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has sparked widespread interest, particularly after statements by ex-batsman Robin Uthappa that appeared to incriminate Virat Kohli in Yuvraj's early international career. Uthappa said that Kohli, the Indian team's captain at the time, declined Yuvraj's request for specific fitness accommodations when he returned to the squad following cancer treatment.

Yuvraj Singh, a crucial player in Indian white-ball cricket who helped the side win World Cups under MS Dhoni, had a difficult time after being diagnosed with cancer following the 2011 ODI World Cup victory. Despite receiving treatment in the United States, Yuvraj demonstrated remarkable determination and made a successful return to the national squad, making a century against England in an ODI.

However, following a poor performance in the 2017 Champions Trophy, Yuvraj was dropped from the team and ultimately opted to retire from professional cricket in 2019. Yuvraj opened up about his feelings of being neglected in the latter stages of his spectacular career during an interview.

"Never thought that I would be dropped after being the Man of the Match in 2 games out of the 8-9 I played after the Champions Trophy 2017. I got injured and I was told to prepare for the Sri Lanka series. Then suddenly, the Yo-Yo test came into the picture. It was a u-turn in my selection. Suddenly I had to go back and prepare for the Yo-Yo test at the age of 36. Even after I cleared the Yo-Yo test, I was told to play domestic cricket," Yuvraj told in an interview to Aaj Tak in 2019.

"They actually thought that I wouldn't be able to clear the test due to my age. And that it would be easy to decline me afterwards...yeah you can say it was an exercise in making excuses," he added.

The resurfaced interview and Uthappa's words elicited a wide range of responses from fans and cricket enthusiasts. Some criticize Kohli for his strict fitness requirements, while others support his position, emphasizing the importance of fitness in modern cricket.

In the middle of these talks, Yuvraj's narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the difficulties that even the most recognized athletes experience as they approach the end of their careers.

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