'I was not feeling respected, was no longer enjoying the game'; Yuvraj Singh opens up about retirement

MUMBAI: Indian cricket legend Yuvraj Singh has opened up about the circumstances that led to his retirement from international cricket. In a podcast hosted by Sania Mirza, Yuvraj shared details about the neglect he felt during the final phase of his career and the mental pressure he went through.

"I was no longer enjoying the game. I started questioning why I was playing cricket. I felt I was not getting the support or respect I deserved. Constantly trying to prove myself took away the excitement of playing," Yuvraj said.

"Although cricket had been an important part of my life, it began to feel like a burden. I thus felt it was better to hang up my boots. The moment I retired, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders," he said.

Yuvraj also noted that even though senior players like Sachin Tendulkar were around, it took him time to fully understand and cope with the pressures of international cricket.

Yuvraj also spoke about mentoring young cricketer Abhishek Sharma. He said he is trying to give Abhishek the mental support and clarity that he himself did not receive early in his career.

"The only goal that I've put before Abhishek is to play for the Indian team over the next four years. I've also advised him to focus on representing the country rather than chasing short-term successes in tournaments like the IPL," Yuvraj added.