Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has bravely shared his emotional and mental health battles during a recent appearance on Raj Shamani’s podcast. The cricketer opened up about a difficult year marked by anxiety attacks, sleepless nights, and even suicidal thoughts.
“I Had Suicidal Thoughts,” Says Yuzvendra Chahal
In the podcast, Chahal revealed that he had been going through an intense phase of emotional turmoil for over a month, which affected both his personal life and professional performance.
“I had suicidal thoughts. I was tired of my life. I used to cry for two hours and sleep for just two hours. It went on for 40-45 days,” Chahal confessed.
Recognizing the severity of his condition, Chahal requested a break from domestic cricket, stepping away from Haryana’s squad during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He admitted that the game he always loved no longer brought him the joy it once did, signaling a deeper emotional issue.
“I asked for a break because I was not able to use my mind. Cricket gave me happiness and still does, but if I can’t enjoy it, something is wrong. So I took a month-long break,” he added.
During this tough phase, Chahal leaned on close friends for support and shared how fear often overwhelmed him.
“I used to share suicidal thoughts with a friend. I used to get scared.”
Separation from Dhanashree Verma: “We Reached a Point of No Return”
In addition to his mental health struggles, Chahal also discussed the end of his marriage with Dhanashree Verma, his partner of five years. The couple, who had previously kept their relationship updates away from the public eye, decided to separate quietly.
“It was going on for a long while. We decided we don’t want to show people anything. We agreed that unless we reach a point of no return, we won’t say anything and will behave like a normal couple on social media,” said Chahal.
After news of their separation broke, Chahal faced harsh criticism and unfounded allegations of infidelity.
“When my divorce happened, people accused me of being a cheater. I’ve never cheated in my life. You won’t find anyone more loyal than me. I always give; I don’t demand. When people don’t know anything but still blame you, it really affects you,” he shared.
A Comeback in Red-Ball Cricket
Despite the off-field challenges, Chahal is focusing on his cricket once again. He is currently playing red-ball cricket in England for Northamptonshire, where he recently made headlines with an impressive performance—claiming 6/118 and 2/18 against Derbyshire.
Although Chahal hasn’t played for India since the 2023 series against West Indies in Lauderhill, he remains hopeful about a comeback by continuing to perform at the domestic and international level.
