"People put the cheater tag on me" - Yuzvendra Chahal's stunning revelation of battling suicidal thoughts after divorce with Dhanashree Verma

India wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal opened up about struggles after his divorce from his ex-wife Dhanashree Verma. He revealed that he battled depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts.

Yuzvendra Chahal appeared on popular YouTuber Raj Shamani's podcast, where he made the revelations. Chahal and Dhanashree officially parted ways in February 2025, after over four years of marriage.

The wrist-spinner said he was called a 'cheater' on social media following the split due to his social media activities. However, he clarified that his close ones were aware of what he went through.

"People put the cheater tag on me, thinking how is he happy suddenly so soon, why is he not in depression or has not gone away somewhere. That's my life. If some things give me happiness, I will do that. I was in depression before. I got anxiety attacks. My close ones know. I have not put it out anywhere that I need sympathy. I am telling this for the first time. I did have problems, I had suicidal thoughts. My mind had gone numb," he said. (10:26)

Chahal also revealed that he would overthink and feel anxious, and credited his close friends for sticking with him through difficult times. The wrist-spinner added that he had everything but happiness during that phase, and also spoke at length about his experiences and suicidal thoughts.

"When I would overthink, I would start feeling anxious. But I would not tell anyone. In the past 3-4 months I had taken a break from cricket. I needed time for myself. And that time I would have these thoughts. I felt I had everything but did not have happiness. I would think just leave this life. I did not want to give tension to my family. But then my close friends helped me a lot. They were with me all the time. It was tough for me.(11:50) "I was tired of my life. I didn't want to deal with the same things or experience the anxiety every single day. Talking to my friends about it, crying for two hours, sleeping a bit, and then again the same cycle. I felt like it would have been better if it had stopped completely. Earlier, it came once in one or two months. But when I took a break from cricket, it lasted for around 45 days. Even if I was alone for 10-15 minutes, I would overthink and start experiencing anxiety. Even right now, my hands are sweaty. I don't want even my enemies to go through such a phase," he added. (39:58)

Yuzvendra Chahal is currently playing in the ongoing County Championship for Northamptonshire. He has bagged 12 wickets so far, averaging 40.91, with best figures of 6/118.

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"We decided we don't want to show people" - Yuzvendra Chahal on divorce

Opening up further on his separation, Yuzvendra Chahal admitted that it was in the works for a long time. However, he revealed that they had decided not to make things public until the end, and behaved like a normal couple on social media.

"It was going on from a long time. We decided we don't want to show people till it is done. Who knows if it doesn't happen, then it would become a different scenario. It was like till we don't get to a certain point, we won't say anything and be like a normal couple on social media," he said. (18:03)

The wrist-spinner has been out of favor, with respect to the national team, for a while now. He last played for India in 2023. Though Chahal was a part of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad, he didn't get a game.

Having made his ODI debut in 2016, he has 121 wickets from 72 matches at an average of 27.13 in the format. From 80 T20Is, he has 96 wickets. Despite a healthy first-class record of 119 wickets from 43 games, Yuzvendra Chahal has not featured in Tests.

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Edited by Rishab Vm