Indian leg-spin bowler Yuzvendra Chahal has spoken publicly about navigating periods of alcohol dependence and anxiety, describing how the collapse of his marriage, compounded by the press coverage it drew, weighed on his psychological health. Recognising that his relationship with alcohol had grown harder to manage, he took the step of reaching out for professional support.

In an appearance on the podcast Baith & Bol, hosted by former India cricketer Aakash Chopra, Chahal — then 36 — described how alcohol had initially been part of the social fabric of his early IPL years before his divorce marked a turning point at which the habit grew harder to manage. He went on to speak about the panic attacks that had taken hold during a turbulent stretch in his personal life.

Chahal linked his relationship with alcohol to the formative period of the IPL, a time when socialising heavily was widespread among players of his generation. Describing the tournament's early years, he noted that gatherings and parties were where such activity typically took place among the players. He recalled that once the IPL got underway in 2011, a run of about three years brought sustained and frequent celebrations.

Guidance on keeping life in balance came to him through a conversation with AB de Villiers, the former South Africa captain, whose advice on the matter stayed with him.

Chahal noted that his alcohol consumption rose in the period following his divorce, a time when he described his mental state as poor, and that he eventually came to see the pattern as a threat to his playing career, saying the situation had gone beyond what he could manage. He expressed concern that continuing along the same path could put his cricket career at risk.

Describing a 26-day stay at a treatment facility, he told reporters the experience gave him tools to process his feelings and take back a sense of direction in his life. He told those present that his mental and emotional state had improved considerably.

Chahal noted that the public conversation around his divorce took an emotional toll and affected his performance on the cricket field, describing anxiety as a sensation where the heart pounds rapidly from within. He described occasions when the condition caused his lips to tighten and pull noticeably to one side, making the physical change visible enough that others around him could tell something was off.

He noted that while his performance on the field had remained largely unaffected, the toll on his personal life had been far heavier, telling reporters that cricket had not taken much of a hit but that life away from the game had taken a real one. Chahal noted that pressures tied to his personal life during that period weighed on his ability to feature in white-ball cricket, adding that hearing public commentary about his private affairs left him feeling unsettled.

He noted that only two white-ball matches featured in his schedule that season, after which T20 cricket dropped away from his plans due to a mental approach that had yet to settle into place. Chahal noted that the experience brought on anxiety, among other effects.

Their union, formalised at a December 2020 wedding ceremony, gave way to separate living arrangements by June 2022, with the Bandra Family Court in Mumbai ultimately dissolving the marriage through a mutual-consent ruling handed down in March 2025.

Cutting out alcohol, the spinner noted, played a part in lifting his physical condition and sharpening his attention during training sessions. Chahal expressed confidence in an improved ability to manage the situation.

After a period of online scrutiny, he chose to redirect his attention toward what lay ahead, noting in a statement that public life inherently opens the door to commentary on personal matters — and that voices on social media, once raised, are not easily quieted. He indicated that he had chosen to move on and put the matter to rest.

Chahal said a sense of contentment had taken hold, and that karting tracks, golf courses, and whatever else presents itself all find a place in his schedule.