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Yuzvendra Chahal breaks silence on divorce, reveals anxiety attacks and 26 days in rehab

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has shared the emotional toll of his divorce from Dhanashree Verma, detailing how severe anxiety and panic attacks forced him to step away from cricket for an extended period. The 2024–25 domestic season saw Chahal play just two white-ball matches for Haryana, citing mental unreadiness and a desire to avoid impacting his team’s performance.

His condition worsened to the point of physical symptoms—including facial tension and difficulty speaking—before he sought a break from the sport, supported by his coach Anirudh Singh. The public scrutiny surrounding his personal life only deepened the strain, he revealed in a recent interview, though a ₹18 crore IPL signing by Punjab Kings in 2025 ultimately became a turning point in his recovery and career focus.

Chahal and Verma separated in March 2025 after nearly 18 months of living apart, marking a period he described as one of the most challenging of his life. The spinner’s openness about his struggles—including the intensity of his panic attacks—highlights the broader pressures faced by high-profile athletes navigating personal and professional demands simultaneously.

His decision to prioritize mental health reflects a growing acknowledgment in sports of the need for support beyond physical training.

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