Mumbai | August 1, 2025 : Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has finally broken his silence on the highly publicized divorce from his ex-wife Dhanashree Verma, making it clear in a podcast appearance that he was never unfaithful and highlighting his painful mental health struggles during that period.

Speaking to Raj Shamani on his podcast, Chahal revealed that the decision to keep their separation private until the legal process was complete was mutual. “We decided we don’t want to show the people. Until we reached the point of the end, we stayed like a normal couple on social media,” he said.

Amid widespread rumours of infidelity, Chahal firmly denied any wrongdoing:
“I have never cheated. You won’t find a more loyal person than me. I think from my heart when it comes to loved ones.”

He added that false narratives were hurtful and driven by clickbait culture. “Just because you're seen with someone, people link you up for views. If you react once, they know you’ll react again,” he explained.

Beyond the noise, Chahal shared a deeply personal account of his battle with anxiety, sleeplessness, and suicidal thoughts during that time. “I was tired of my life. Same things. Same anxiety. Crying for two hours. Sleeping just 2–3 hours. I thought it was better it ended,” he said, describing the 40-45 day mental slump that led him to take a break from cricket.

“I took a break because I didn’t want the team to suffer because of me,” he said.

Chahal’s interview sheds light on the emotional cost of public scrutiny and the importance of talking about mental health, especially among athletes. His candidness has struck a chord with fans, many applauding him for showing strength in vulnerability.