A wave of tributes hit social media as icons such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Mohammad Kaif praised Yuvraj for his nearly two decades of dedication to the game. Rohit Sharma, India's vice-captain, mentioned that the legendary left-hander deserved a more fitting exit. Speaking at his press conference on Monday, Yuvraj admitted he was emotional, noting that after 17 years of ups and downs in international cricket, the story had reached its end. He expressed that it was the right time to say goodbye and start a new chapter.
“I have been playing international cricket on and off for 17 years. Now, it is time to say goodbye, to move on and walk away. It has been a roller coaster ride and a great story but it has to come to an end,” said an emotional Yuvraj in a press conference on Monday. “This is the best time to move on,” he added.
While fans processed the news with mixed emotions, Sanjay Manjrekar—who was in England covering the World Cup—took to Twitter to call Yuvraj a 'very selfless batsman,' wishing him success in his post-cricket life.
Yuvraj's witty and sharp rebuttal to Manjrekar, who had often questioned his skills and been critical in the past, reminded everyone of the same aggression he used to hit massive sixes.