Yuzvendra Chahal’s SHOCKING Confession: ‘I Had Suicidal Thoughts’—The Untold Struggle Behind the Cricketer’s Smile!

In a rare moment of vulnerability, Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal peeled back the curtain on his battle with severe mental health struggles, revealing that the past year pushed him to the brink. In a deeply emotional conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Chahal confessed to experiencing recurring suicidal thoughts, anxiety attacks, and a crushing insomnia after his highly-publicized divorce from Dhanashree Verma.

“I had suicidal thoughts, I was tired of my life, I used to cry for 2 hours. I used to sleep for just 2 hours. It went for 40-45 days,” Chahal bravely shared, leaving listeners both shocked and moved.

Chahal’s ordeal ignited during a tumultuous personal phase marred by public scrutiny, circulation of cruel rumors, and a painful separation from his wife of five years. The spinner acknowledged that the relentless speculation and baseless accusations of infidelity from people who “don’t even know the truth” weighed heavily on his already fragile mental state.

“When my divorce happened, people alleged me of being a cheater. I have never cheated in my life… When people don’t know anything, but they keep blaming me, you start thinking [otherwise],” he admitted.

Recognizing the magnitude of his distress, Chahal decided to step away, requesting a break from Haryana’s domestic calendar—even skipping the Vijay Hazare Trophy. “Cricket gave me happiness, and continues to make me happy. If I am not able to do that, then something is wrong, so I took a month-long break,” he explained. During this hiatus, he barely slept and relied on friends to voice his darkest fears.

Despite these devastating lows, Chahal found a glimmer of hope in his return to cricket. Currently plying his trade for Northamptonshire in England’s County Championship, the leggie’s recent heroics—6/118 and 2/18 against Derbyshire—suggest a man fighting to rebuild, both professionally and personally.

Chahal’s candidness shatters the myth that elite athletes are immune to mental health battles. His story sends an urgent message about empathy, the toll of online hate, and the strength it takes for icons to reach out for help. As fans and the cricket community rally around him, Chahal’s journey is a powerful reminder that struggle is universal—and so is the capacity to heal.