Robin Uthappa Suggests Virat Kohli's Leadership Affected Yuvraj Singh's Career
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has hinted that Virat Kohli’s approach as captain may have played a role in shortening Yuvraj Singh’s international career after his battle with cancer.
Uthappa shared that Yuvraj, a key figure in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup victories under MS Dhoni, sought special fitness considerations after recovering from cancer. Despite his impressive comeback, including a century against England, Yuvraj’s international career faded following a lean performance in the 2017 Champions Trophy. He retired from cricket in 2019.
Speaking in an interview with Lallantop, Uthappa said, “Yuvi beat cancer and tried to return to the team. As captain, you could make exceptions for someone who has not only won you tournaments but also defeated a life-threatening illness. But when Yuvraj requested a two-point reduction in fitness test requirements, it was denied.”
Uthappa revealed that although Yuvraj passed the fitness test, he was dropped after one poor tournament and never given another chance. He added, “Virat Kohli was the leader at the time, and his strong personality influenced these decisions. It seemed like a ‘my way or the highway’ approach.”
While acknowledging Kohli’s focus on maintaining high standards, Uthappa criticized his rigid approach, emphasizing that leadership is also about supporting players, not just achieving results.
