Yuzvendra Chahal opens up about his battle with alcohol addiction and anxiety attacks.
The former Indian cricketer revealed how the breakdown of his marriage and the pressures from public scrutiny deeply affected his mental health. Recognizing the severity of his drinking habits, Chahal sought professional help and spent 26 days in a rehabilitation centre, which played a crucial role in helping him regain control over his life and emotions.
Chahal explained that the experience helped him mature emotionally and tone down his previous emotional turmoil. He and his wife Dhanashri Verma, whom he married in December 2020, separated in June 2022 and later divorced by mutual consent. The leg spinner highlighted that quitting alcohol significantly improved his physical fitness and overall well-being.
He noted that while his personal life suffered greatly during this period, his cricket career was not severely impacted. Chahal traced his drinking habits back to the early years of the IPL when partying became a common aspect of his lifestyle. After his divorce, the situation worsened as he struggled mentally and realized that continuing down this path could jeopardize his cricket career, something he deeply values.
Chahal, who recently retired from first-class cricket, remains the leading wicket-taker in IPL history. He has also represented India with distinction, taking 217 wickets across 72 ODIs and 80 T20 Internationals, cementing his status as one of the country’s most successful white-ball spinners.