Yuvraj Singh has offered a candid explanation for his absence from cricket commentary, stating that his decision is rooted in personal boundaries rather than a lack of interest in the game.
In an interview with Sports Tak, the former India all-rounder said he has consciously stayed away from broadcasting roles, unlike several of his teammates who moved into commentary soon after retirement. The reason, Yuvraj clarified is not a lack of interest in the game, but rather a refusal to work with people who have previously made ‘personal' remarks about him.
Yuvraj clarified that he has no issue with criticism about his cricket. However, he drew a clear distinction between professional evaluation and what he described as “personal remarks” made during his playing career.
He noted that while technical opinions are part of the game, certain comments crossed into personal territory and have had a lasting impact. As a result, he does not see himself sharing a professional environment with individuals he believes overstepped that line.
"Now that I have retired, let me speak about the issue. The real issue is that those people who made remarks about me, not on cricket, but rather personal statements. I understand what you mean when you talk about the game. When you get personal, you always remember that," Yuvraj said.
The 2011 World Cup winner added that his decision is guided by respect and personal integrity, indicating that working alongside such voices would be incompatible with his principles.
“I don't want to sit with the people who passed personal remarks about me. That's the main reason I don't want to do commentary. Commentary is a great place to speak about the game and how it has evolved. That is the main reason I don't want to do commentary,” he explained.
While Yuvraj did not name individuals, his remarks align with past instances of friction with sections of the commentary fraternity.
One of the more widely discussed episodes involves Sanjay Manjrekar, who had described Yuvraj's return to the Indian team post-cancer as an “emotional decision.” The frosty relationship surfaced upon his retirement when Yuvraj responded to Manjrekar's wishes on Twitter (Now X) saying, “Thanks Sanjay, I'm sure sometimes critics get the best out of you! Cheers.",
Instead of pursuing a media role, Yuvraj has focused on mentoring and coaching, working closely with emerging Indian players.
He has been associated with the development of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, and also spoke about helping Sanju Samson with technical adjustments.
He noted that Samson had reached a stage where he was struggling to secure a consistent place in the playing XI, despite scoring two centuries in South Africa. Their conversation, Yuvraj said, took place after India's T20 World Cup win in Barbados in 2024, a tournament where Samson was not part of the playing XI.
“I had been watching his batting for 2-3 IPL seasons. I told him we would speak whenever he had time.
“So my issue with Sanju was, you have to improve your footwork. If you don't improve your footwork, you will consistently land in trouble. Scoring runs or not is different, but you have to improve your footwork. I gave him some ideas on how to improve it."
ALSO READ | IPL 2026: Rahane Says People Have 'Agenda', Are 'Jealous' When Asked About Slow Strike Rate - Watch
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.