The Chandigarh-born cricketer captured the imagination of world cricket with his gravity-defying fielding abilities and effortless power-hitting.

Tall, willowy and ethereal, his unlimited talent and charisma made him a limited overs legend, but he will walk into the sunset feeling he has not done enough in Tests.

After 25 years, I have decided to move on. Cricket has given me everything and is the reason why I stand here today," the 37-year-old said addressing the media in the extravagant interiors of a star hotel that quite resembled his flamboyant batting.

"It was a love-hate relationship with this game. I can't explain what it really means to me. This game taught me to fight. I have failed more times than I succeeded and I will never give up," he said.

The attacking left-hander listed the the 2011 World Cup triumph, being Man of the Tournament in the showpiece, getting six sixes in an over against England in the inaugural 2007 World T20 and his first Test hundred, against Pakistan in Lahore in 2004, as the most special moments of his international career that twisted this way and that through 17 years.

In pic: Yuvraj Singh's mother Shabnam gets emotional during an event

In pic: Yuvraj Singh's wife Hazel Keech reacts during an event, where he announced his retirement

"Winning the 2011 World Cup, being man of the series, four MoM awards was all like a dream, which was followed with a harsh reality of getting diagnosed with cancer," reminisced Yuvraj.

"All this happened so quickly and that too when I was at the peak of my career. I can't possibly explain the support of my family and friends who stood by me, like my pillars of strength and courage. The BCCI and BCCI president at that time, N Srinivasan, too supported me during my treatment," added an emotional Yuvraj.

Yuvraj, a fighter to the core even off the field, battled all odds to return to cricket after being successfully cured of a rare germ cell tumour in the United States.