Yuzvendra Chahal Reveals Divorce Impact: Missed Cricket Tournaments Due to Mental Strain
Cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal has spoken openly about the profound effect his divorce from Dhanashree Verma had on his mental well-being and professional performance. In a candid interview, Chahal admitted that the emotional turmoil led him to skip several major cricket tournaments last year. He described the divorce as a closed chapter in his life, emphasizing his current happiness and forward-looking mindset.
Chahal's Journey to Emotional Closure
Chahal shared that he achieved emotional closure quickly after the legal proceedings ended. "It was done and dusted right after stepping out of the court," he stated, highlighting how legal finality can aid psychological healing. Despite public speculation and media scrutiny, Chahal maintains he is "happily single" and clarified that women seen with him are friends. He briefly tried a dating app but found it confusing and deleted his account.
The cricketer also addressed online abuse, noting that while hate exists alongside love from fans, it doesn't affect him deeply. "I've left that behind now," he said, showing resilience against social media trolling.
Chahal credited his mentor, Aniruddh sir, for providing crucial support during his recovery. "My mind wasn't in the right place when I was going through my divorce," he confessed, explaining why his career suffered temporarily.
Expert Insight: How Divorce Affects Mental Health and Work
Counselling psychologist Athul Raj explains that divorce often shakes a person's inner foundation. It disrupts emotional security, daily routines, and self-identity. Many individuals silently grapple with grief, shame, anger, and fear, creating constant mental noise. This strain typically manifests at work as reduced focus, fluctuating confidence, or emotional detachment rather than outright failure.
Early signs of distress can be subtle, including disturbed sleep, irritability, social withdrawal, or functioning efficiently without emotional investment. Raj notes, "One common signal is emotional dullness — achievements stop bringing satisfaction, and setbacks don't register. People may appear composed and productive, but internally they feel disconnected."
What Real Emotional Closure Looks Like
Healthy closure does not involve erasing pain or rushing the healing process. Instead, it means the experience no longer dictates present feelings or functionality. Individuals can recall events without being overwhelmed by them.
Raj emphasizes that closure requires fully grieving the relationship, the imagined future, and the loss of certainty. Suppressing emotions might seem controlled but often leads to bitterness, emotional shutdown, or self-sabotage later. Real closure allows sadness and forward movement to coexist.
People achieve closure by acknowledging the truth of what happened, processing emotions deliberately—often with professional support—and rebuilding routine, purpose, and boundaries. Letting go is not about denial; it involves integrating the experience so it no longer defines one's identity.
Chahal's experience underscores the importance of mental health support during personal crises. His story highlights how even high-profile athletes face emotional challenges that impact their careers, reminding us of the human side behind public personas.
