Yuvraj Singh’s Old Viral Interview Sparks Fresh Debate: Did Virat Kohli End His Career?

"Robin Uthappa’s remarks reignite controversy as Yuvraj Singh’s 2019 interview surfaces, revealing his struggle with Yo-Yo test selection criteria after battling cancer."

January 11, 2025: New Delhi: An old interview of former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has resurfaced and gone viral amidst recent allegations by ex-teammate Robin Uthappa, who suggested that Virat Kohli may have indirectly played a role in cutting short Yuvraj’s career.

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Uthappa, in a recent interview, alleged that Yuvraj’s request for minor fitness concessions, after his battle with cancer, was denied by Kohli during his tenure as India’s captain. This has sparked fresh debate around Yuvraj’s career trajectory, which ended in retirement in 2019 after a celebrated yet tumultuous journey.

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Yuvraj, who played pivotal roles in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup victories under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, was diagnosed with cancer shortly after the 2011 triumph. Despite undergoing treatment in the US and making a heroic comeback, his international career was abruptly halted following the 2017 Champions Trophy.

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Yuvraj’s Revelations in 2019

In the resurfaced interview with Aaj Tak, Yuvraj described how his career took an unexpected turn during his final years with the Indian team.
"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 was told to prepare for the Sri Lanka series. Then suddenly, the Yo-Yo test came into the picture," Yuvraj said.

Yuvraj highlighted the challenges of meeting new fitness criteria at the age of 36, stating, "Even after I cleared the Yo-Yo test, I was told to play domestic cricket. It felt like an excuse to sideline me."

The Yo-Yo test had become a mandatory fitness benchmark during Kohli’s captaincy, and Yuvraj expressed frustration that the requirement seemed designed to exclude him due to his age and health history.

Robin Uthappa’s Claims

Robin Uthappa recently reignited the controversy by suggesting that Yuvraj was denied flexibility despite his contributions and circumstances. According to Uthappa, such decisions reflected poorly on team management and raised questions about how veteran players were treated.

Public Reaction

Fans and cricket enthusiasts have expressed mixed reactions to the resurfaced interview and Uthappa’s remarks. While some blame Kohli for being overly rigid with fitness norms, others defend his policies, arguing that fitness is non-negotiable in modern cricket.

As debates rage on, Yuvraj’s story remains a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by even the most celebrated athletes during the twilight of their careers.

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Tags:

Yuvraj Singh interview, Virat Kohli controversy, Yo-Yo test selection, Robin Uthappa on Kohli, Indian cricket fitness policies, Yuvraj’s cancer battle, cricket career controversies.