India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has opened up about a difficult period in his personal life following his divorce from Dhanashree Verma. The cricketer revealed that his alcohol consumption increased during that time and that he eventually checked himself into a rehabilitation centre, where he spent 26 days.

Speaking on a podcast hosted by former India opener Aakash Chopra, Chahal discussed how anxiety, panic attacks and public scrutiny affected both his personal life and cricket.

Chahal said the constant commentary about his private life on social media caused him considerable distress and affected his game.

“When someone becomes famous, people seem to think they have the right to comment on every aspect of their life. That situation hurt me a lot. It also affected my cricket,” he said.

The leg-spinner described experiencing severe anxiety after the divorce. He recalled episodes in which his heart raced, he struggled to speak and his lips pulled to one side.

“That was when I realised how intense anxiety could be. But people will always talk on social media. You cannot silence everyone. So I decided to start again,” Chahal said.

AB de Villiers' advice helped him regain balance

Chahal credited former South Africa captain AB de Villiers with offering advice that helped him reconsider his priorities and regain balance in life.

The leg-spinner, who has taken 233 wickets in 188 IPL matches according to the figures cited in the report, said de Villiers emphasised the importance of maintaining balance.

“After the divorce, everything went to extremes. I felt that if I continued like that, I would end up damaging the thing I loved most—cricket,” Chahal said.

Chahal divorced Dhanashree Verma in March 2025. He said his condition worsened after returning from England, where he had played county cricket. Recognising that he needed help, he decided to enter rehabilitation.

“I admitted myself to a rehab centre. I spent 26 days there. During that time, things changed in my personal life and mindset. I regained balance and completely stopped drinking alcohol,” he said.

Mental health struggles forced him to take a break

Chahal also revealed that his mental state affected his participation in cricket. After playing two white-ball matches for Haryana during the 2024–25 season, he did not continue playing T20 cricket at that stage.

“I was not in the right mental state, and I was not fully fit. I did not want the team to suffer because of me, so I spoke to the officials and took some time off. It was during that period, when I was spending time alone, that the panic attacks began,” he said.

Chahal said he gradually regained his confidence and energy. During the following IPL season, he felt more enthusiastic about training, practice and gym sessions, describing the experience as similar to how he had felt at the age of 30.

His account offers a glimpse into the personal struggles behind the humour and energy he is known for on the cricket field.