In a recent podcast conducted by Vikrant Gupta on Sportstak, former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh talked about how he was not being given any clarity on his inclusion in the Indian squad towards the end of his career. The former cricketer told Gupta that the selectors and captain Virat Kohli told him he couldn’t pass the fitness test and should retire. No response from either side made Yuvraj feel stuck, as he knew he was 36 years old and wanted clarity on his position in the team.
“I had zero clarity from the NCA, captain, and the coach. I was like… I am stuck. I am 36, going on 37. What do I do? At least give some respect for playing so long,” Singh revealed.
However, Singh revealed that it was the former captain, MS Dhoni, who gave him the right perspective and told Singh that the selectors were moving on from him. This perspective prompted Singh to give the fitness tests again, where he revealed he had passed them, yet he wasn’t called by the management. This incident then prompted Singh to announce his retirement in 2019.
“So I spoke to MS Dhoni. He gave me the right perspective that this is the reality. He wasn’t the captain or directly involved, but he was watching what was going on. That helped me understand things better,” Yuvi asserted. “From there, I got clarity. I was told that if I couldn’t pass the fitness test, I should retire. I said I will decide when to retire. I passed the test now you decide if you want me or not. If not, then I’m off."
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Yuvraj Singh reveals getting disappointed after MS Dhoni was named captain in 2007
Talking to Vikrant Gupta, Yuvraj Singh also talked about how not being given a chance to lead the team could be disappointing for the players. Singh recalled his own playing days and said that despite being the vice-captain in 2007, MS Dhoni was made the captain out of nowhere. He also said that it was disappointing to see contenders like Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag being sidelined after giving so many years to the team.
“I was the vice-captain in 2007, but out of nowhere, MS Dhoni was made captain. It is disappointing when seniors like Sehwag and Harbhajan are treated that way after doing so much for years.” the former player said.
While admitting the decision was surprising at the time, Yuvraj noted that Dhoni was "destined to lead" and acknowledged him as a very good captain who was the right person to lead India to its historic successes.
In addition to it, Yuvraj Singh also addressed several topics, ranging from his dad’s remarks towards MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev to talking about his bond with players like Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma on the podcast. He also expressed his beliefs on keeping Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the 2027 ODI World Cup squad due to their experience. Singh also appreciated Gambhir’s captaincy and called it equivalent to the environment Gary Kirsten provided them during the 2011 World Cup.
