Across 188 appearances in the Indian Premier League, Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 233 wickets — a tally that places him ahead of every other bowler in the competition's record books. Ranked above figures including Jasprit Bumrah, Sunil Narine, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Lasith Malinga, he occupies the leading position on the all-time list.

Chahal's career in limited-overs formats has brought him considerable recognition, yet a Test cap has never come his way. Across 72 one-day internationals, his bowling produced 121 dismissals, while a further 80 appearances in the shortest format of the game added 96 more to that tally for the national side.

Away from the cricket field, the leg-spinner has navigated stretches of difficulty in his personal life. That includes a period marked by alcohol dependency, the dissolution of his marriage, and sustained public attention.

In a podcast conversation hosted by former India opener Aakash Chopra, the 36-year-old spoke about navigating recovery, mental wellbeing, and the process of rebuilding a more stable footing in life. Raising the subject of those who had supported Chahal during a difficult personal stretch, Chopra noted that for years the cricketer had been the person friends sought out whenever they needed support.

Chopra posed a question about how personal crises leave a different kind of mark than professional pressures, while Chahal noted that close friends and family had been by his side throughout. Chopra's next question to the spinner centred on the point at which he had chosen to give up alcohol.

Chahal spoke about how his alcohol consumption grew to a level he felt warranted outside support, a pattern he linked to his time playing county cricket. The situation escalated to a point where entering a treatment facility became necessary, with a 26-day stay following. He described the decision as one that had a significant effect on his personal circumstances, and noted that a period of personal growth followed.

A quieter, more settled state of mind took hold over that time. He noted that during the previous IPL season, his body had responded as it had at age 30, allowing him to complete full training sessions covering gym work and fielding drills.

Responding to Chopra's question about the origins of his drinking, Chahal traced the pattern back to a combination of factors — the social culture around cricket in his formative years, the gatherings that accompanied it, and the personal difficulties he was navigating at the time. He went on to reference guidance he had received from former South African batter AB de Villiers, noting that at the time he had been at an early stage of his career. His debut appearance in the IPL came during the 2011 season.

De Villiers, Chahal said, had spoken about balance as a central principle in life — a notion that reads simply enough yet proves harder to put into practice. Following the divorce, Chahal described his behaviour becoming increasingly erratic and his psychological wellbeing deteriorating noticeably. He noted that continuing along that path had threatened to undermine cricket, a sport that had been a lifelong passion.

Chahal said that bringing the situation to a close had left him in a noticeably more positive state of mind. He went on to address how his personal life had drawn unwanted public attention and the strain that scrutiny placed on him, describing how the volume of commentary weighed on his mental health and, as a result, on his form on the pitch. He added that anyone carrying a public profile finds their personal circumstances open to commentary from others.

He described the period as one marked by personal distress and a range of obstacles, and acknowledged that his performance on the cricket field suffered as a result. He noted that only two white-ball fixtures had featured in that year's schedule before T20 appearances dropped away — a decision he linked to a mental state that was not where it needed to be. He explained that his physical condition had fallen short of full fitness and that he had not wanted that to affect the rest of the squad.

Chahal described reaching out to Anirudh, seeking both his support and time away from the game to deal with his personal situation. He said he experienced anxiety and panic attacks during that period and that he approached Anirudh with a request for a break, which the latter granted with full support.

Describing how those episodes took a physical toll, Chahal explained the symptoms he went through and how he gradually found ways to manage them, noting that an elevated heart rate was one way anxiety made itself felt — a condition he said he had eventually questioned whether he could keep carrying. During a panic attack, he said, his face would feel as though it was contracting, and when his mouth pulled tight and angled to one side, those nearby recognised that something had gone wrong.

He acknowledged that at that point the volume of commentary likely to follow across social media platforms was apparent to him. His remarks then turned to the IPL specifically. Faced with external commentary about his direction, Chahal described choosing to focus forward instead.

Reflecting on Punjab Kings' decision to retain him at Rs 18 crore for the 2025 IPL season, he described carrying a burden that lifted only once he made a deliberate choice to set it aside. He noted that online discussion tends to persist regardless of attempts to suppress it, and that moving forward with a clean slate became his approach. Chahal said the Rs 18 crore outlay Punjab Kings made to secure him during his opening season with the franchise weighed on him as a sense of obligation, and that when the team found itself protecting a total of 111 against KKR, he understood the moment called for him to take greater responsibility.