Yuvraj Singh joins Toronto Nationals for Global T20 Canada

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who had taken retirement from all forms of cricket earlier this month, is set to play in the upcoming season of Global T20 Canada for Toronto Nationals. Yuvraj was signed by the Toronto Nationals in the player draft on Thursday to play in the second season of the league, commencing on July 25.

At the time of his retirement, Yuvraj shared his desire of playing in the T20 leagues all around the world.

"With BCCI's permission, I would love to go, play and have fun for this year or maybe next year. I don't know what's left in me. It has been a very long and hard journey and I think I deserve that. I have had a word with BCCI and will have another after this announcement. Hopefully, it will be easy sailing for me," Yuvraj said during his retirement speech.

Along with Yuvraj, another Indian cricketer Manpreet Singh Gony is also named in the squad of Toronto Nationals.

On June 10, 2019, Yuvraj Singh brought the curtains down on his beautiful cricketing journey as 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 career, his loved ones, and his fans while putting his celebrated cricketing journey into words. Before announcing his retirement, Yuvraj Singh shared a heartfelt video that beautifully encapsulated his journey in Cricket. 

WATCH | 'A Hero's Journey': Overwhelmed Yuvraj Singh Recites His Story From 'hating' To 'loving' Cricket In A Heartwarming Retirement Video

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.

(With inputs from ANI)