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Indian Premier League 2019

Yuvraj Singh looks to Sachin Tendulkar for retirement advice

by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

Yuvraj Singh may no longer be the giant of old, but he is still enjoying playing cricket and has no plans of retiring.

The former India all-rounder – he last played an international in June 2017 – has hit the ground running in IPL 2019, scoring a typically eye-catching half-century on Sunday, March 24, for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals.

On the face of it, these knocks don’t mean much compared to his achievements in his past – he was Player of the Tournament as India won the 2011 World Cup – but for Singh, there’s still plenty of pleasure.

Yuvraj Singh made his Mumbai Indians debut with a brisk half-century

Yuvraj Singh made his Mumbai Indians debut with a brisk half-century

And that is reason enough for the 37-year-old to keep playing. Despite scoring a 35-ball 53 against Delhi, the questions about retirement kept coming. Singh, for his part, handled them deftly.

“When the time comes, I will be the first one to hang my boots,” he said. “The last two years, have been up and down and I could not decide on what to do.”

Mumbai are the sixth IPL side Singh is representing. He’s been the biggest draw at auctions twice before, but hasn’t always managed to back that up with performances in the middle.

That led to some soul-searching, he admitted, but Singh is enjoying playing again, and that is paramount. “The main thing for me was why I played the game when I started off. I played the game because I enjoyed playing cricket,” he said.

“When I enjoyed playing cricket, I was not playing for India. I was playing for U-14s and U-16s. So till the time, I enjoy playing cricket, I am going to play.”

"Talking to him makes things easier for me"

“Talking to him makes things easier for me”

Age doesn’t make it easy for players, though, and Singh revealed he is seeking counsel from India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who played the IPL till he was 40.

“I have been speaking to Sachin [Tendulkar] as well and he has gone through that time when he was 37-38-39 [and how he felt],” said Singh.

“Talking to him makes things easier for me. And I am just playing because I enjoy playing cricket pretty much.”

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