The farewell to Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene couldn't have been scripted better. Yuvraj Singh's couldn't have been scripted any worse.
Sanga and Mahela decided to walk away from T20 cricket before the end of this tournament - two legends walking away from the game while still being good enough to walk into any side in world cricket. The one missing item on their resumes was an ICC world trophy in spite of several close calls in finals. Well, not any more. They accomplished that feat in their last game, both making significant contributions. I am sure these gentlemen will walk away from Test cricket ahead of their time as well.
Technically Yuvraj's international career isn't over yet. He is out of the Test and ODI sides, and was selected for the T20 world cup on past glory. However for all practical purposes, his international career is over. A legend like him didn't have to go this way, and Dhoni and our selectors are to blame for Yuvi's humiliation. The signs have been there for a while. Since Yuvi's comeback from cancer treatment, he has not been the same player. In the current tournament, he has looked slow, jaded, and completely out of his depth in all departments of the game. In the innings against Australia he appeared to be back, but that innings was an aberration against a dispirited opponent. Dhoni had no business to play him after his first or second game.
However let us not forget what an elegantly destructive cricketer Yuvi was. He, Kaif, and Azharuddin changed Indian fielding forever. He won us tournaments almost single handedly. But it didn't have to end this way. That is why I like to see legends walk away from the game when they are still on top of their game. I hope Yuvi is remembered for the good things he did for Indian cricket, and not for the one sorry innings, even though it might have cost India the tournament.
Sanga and Mahela decided to walk away from T20 cricket before the end of this tournament - two legends walking away from the game while still being good enough to walk into any side in world cricket. The one missing item on their resumes was an ICC world trophy in spite of several close calls in finals. Well, not any more. They accomplished that feat in their last game, both making significant contributions. I am sure these gentlemen will walk away from Test cricket ahead of their time as well.
Technically Yuvraj's international career isn't over yet. He is out of the Test and ODI sides, and was selected for the T20 world cup on past glory. However for all practical purposes, his international career is over. A legend like him didn't have to go this way, and Dhoni and our selectors are to blame for Yuvi's humiliation. The signs have been there for a while. Since Yuvi's comeback from cancer treatment, he has not been the same player. In the current tournament, he has looked slow, jaded, and completely out of his depth in all departments of the game. In the innings against Australia he appeared to be back, but that innings was an aberration against a dispirited opponent. Dhoni had no business to play him after his first or second game.
However let us not forget what an elegantly destructive cricketer Yuvi was. He, Kaif, and Azharuddin changed Indian fielding forever. He won us tournaments almost single handedly. But it didn't have to end this way. That is why I like to see legends walk away from the game when they are still on top of their game. I hope Yuvi is remembered for the good things he did for Indian cricket, and not for the one sorry innings, even though it might have cost India the tournament.
