Here are the top quotes by Yuvraj Singh as he beautifully encapsulates his cricketing journey

Yuvraj Singh brought the curtains down on his beautiful cricketing journey on Monday after he announced his retirement from international cricket in a press conference in Mumbai. Emotional, excited and overwhelmed Yuvraj ended a career which spanned 19 years after he made his debut in the ICC KnockOut Trophy in Kenya and impressed in his the very first match he got to bat against Australia.

The left-handed cricketer from Punjab could not hold back his tears as he spoke about the sports, his carrer, his loved ones and his fans while putting his celebrated cricketing journey into words. Here's are the top ten quotes from the inspiring sportsman:

 "After 25 years, in around 22 yards and almost 17 years of international cricket on and off, I have decided to move on"  

The left-handed cricketer from Punjab shared a heartfelt video that beautifully encapsulated his journey in Cricket in which he admitted that he hated the game during thew initial stages.

"It was a love-hate relationship with the sport. In retrospect, I don't think I hated this game because the love I have for this game will remain constant until the end of life"

Overall, Yuvraj Singh played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20 Internationals for India from 2003 to 2017.

"This game taught me how to fight, how to fall, how to dust myself off to get up again and move forward"

 "I have failed more times than I have succeeded but never gave up and will never give up till my last breath and that's what cricket taught me"

The greatest triumph for Yuvraj, now 37, was undoubtedly the 2011 World Cup when he hit four half-centuries and century, while also picking up 15 wickets - including a five-for against Ireland - on his way to the Man of the Tournament award as India won the trophy for only the second time.

"Winning 2011 World Cup, being Man of the Match of series, 4 Man of the Match was all like a dream followed by harsh reality...being diagnosed with cancer" 

But soon after the World Cup came the biggest turning point in Yuvraj's life when he was diagnosed with cancer and required a two-and-a-half month treatment in the USA. 

 "It was like touching the sky and then falling down at light speed hitting the ground"

"I am extremely lucky to play 400 games for India"

"I realized why I play cricket because I love the game" 

Despite the long and arduous battle with cancer, he returned to competitive cricket and was named in India's squad for the World T20 in Sri Lanka in 2012.

 "I never stopped believing in myself" 

"The adrenaline rush playing for India, singing the national anthem and touching the national flag, stopping every run and scoring every run was a completely different high.

Read: 'Players Will Come And Go But Players Like Yuvraj Singh Are Very Rare To Find': Virender Sehwag Pens An Emotional Message On World Cup Champ's Retirement

Overall, Yuvraj Singh played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20 Internationals for India from 2003 to 2017. In 2007, Yuvraj Singh showed his big tournament mentality when he hit Stuart Broad for 6 sixes in Durban during the first-ever World T20. He followed that up with a barnstorming fifty against Australia and played a crucial hand as India won the first edition of the World T20.

During the 2011 World Cup, he scored: 

• 362 runs
• 15 wickets
• 4 man-of-the-match awards
• Player of the Tournament

After the World Cup, the cricketer was diagnosed with cancer and battled the disease throughout the tournament. He went overseas for treatment and immediately after recovering went away to France for a training stint. Back in India, Yuvraj Singh showed what he was still capable of with a 35-ball 77 in a T20 International against Australia.