Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal has made a startling revelation about the severe personal toll his highly publicized divorce took on his mental health and career. In a candid new interview, the leg-spinner disclosed that the intense online trolling and abuse he faced following his split from actor and dancer Dhanashree Verma plunged him into a state of depression, which ultimately led him to miss several major cricket tournaments in 2025.
The Mental Health Toll and Missed Opportunities
Chahal confessed that the period surrounding his divorce, which was finalized in March 2025, was one of the darkest phases of his life. "My mind wasn’t in the right place when I was going through my divorce," he admitted. This mental struggle had a direct impact on his professional commitments. He was forced to skip a few major cricket tournaments last year as he battled depression, a fact he has now chosen to share publicly.
He credited his mentor, Aniruddh sir from Haryana, for being a crucial support system during this difficult time. "I used to share it with my mentor... He helped me a lot to get out of that," Chahal stated, highlighting the importance of seeking help.
Moving On from a Closed Chapter
Despite the past turmoil, Chahal now asserts that he has firmly moved on. "It was a chapter in my life, which is over now. I’ve left that space. I don’t want to remain stuck there," he said, emphasizing a forward-looking perspective. He added a note of closure regarding his ex-wife: "I’m happy in my life, she’s happy in hers. What is one going to get by making someone miserable?"
The cricketer revealed that for him, the legal conclusion marked the definitive end. "It was done and dusted right after stepping out of the court," he claimed. The court had ordered Chahal to pay a reported alimony of Rs 4 crore to Dhanashree Verma, a figure he had alluded to subtly on social media and in banter with fellow cricketer Shikhar Dhawan in the past.
Navigating Trolls, Dating, and Life in the Spotlight
Chahal spoke at length about the vicious trolling that followed the divorce, with fans even labeling Dhanashree a "gold-digger" after he wore a "Be your own sugar daddy" T-shirt to court. He has developed a philosophical approach to the hate. "When people love you so much, there’s going to be a little bit of hate as well... I’ve left that behind now," he said, acknowledging that trolling for his physique and teeth was not new to him.
On his personal life post-divorce, Chahal, who has been spotted with radio jockey RJ Mahvash, maintains he is "happily single." He clarified that the women he is seen with are friends, and their pictures get leaked when they go out. He also experimented with the exclusive celebrity dating app Raya but deleted his account as he didn't grasp the concept of dating apps.
Yuzvendra Chahal's openness about his mental health struggle serves as a powerful reminder of the very real human cost behind celebrity gossip and online vitriol, even for those in the glamorous world of sports and entertainment.
