(Image source from: Instagram.com/yuzi_chahal23)

Senior Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal addressed his divorce from Dhanashree Verma on Thursday. He shared insights about the issues that arose during their five-year marriage and discussed his battles with mental health after facing cheating accusations amid divorce rumors earlier this year. Senior Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal addressed his divorce from Dhanashree Verma on Thursday. He shared insights regarding the issues that arose during their five-year marriage and discussed his mental health challenges following cheating accusations amid divorce rumors earlier this year. "This situation had been developing for quite some time. We agreed that we didn’t want to let others see what was happening. Who knew if it wouldn’t happen? Maybe things would change. We felt that we would keep quiet until we reached a breaking point, maintaining a normal couple's appearance on social media," Chahal explained. When asked if he was pretending during that time, Chahal nodded, indicating agreement.

The Indian leg-spinner shared that both he and Dhanashree were very dedicated to their careers, making it tough to focus on their relationship, which led to a growing emotional gap over time. He pointed out that relationships need compromise, but sometimes the personalities or goals of the two people involved don’t match. "A relationship requires compromise. When one gets upset, the other needs to listen. Sometimes the personalities of two individuals simply don’t align. I was busy playing for India, and she had her own commitments. This went on for one to two years. During that time, I became so focused on my commitments that I couldn’t think about the relationship. It becomes a daily thought, and you start to feel it’s not worth it. Two driven individuals can be together. Everyone has their own ambitions. As a partner, you need to support each other. After working towards something for 18 to 20 years, you can’t abandon it for a relationship,” Chahal explained.

Chahal also discussed being labeled a "cheater" during the divorce process earlier this year. "When my divorce occurred, people accused me of cheating. I have never cheated in my life, and that’s not who I am. You won’t find anyone more faithful than me. I genuinely care for those close to me. I don’t demand anything; I always give. When people don’t know the truth but continue to point fingers, it makes you start to doubt yourself," said the Indian bowler. "Since I have two sisters and grew up with them, I understand how to treat women with respect because my parents taught me that. I’ve learned valuable lessons from those around me. Just because my name is mentioned with someone else doesn’t mean others have the right to write anything they want, just for attention," the Haryana native commented.

Chahal confessed that dealing with being in the public eye while coping with his personal issues greatly affected his mental well-being. He shared that he experienced nights without sleep, fell into a state of depression, and even had thoughts of ending his life. "I had thoughts of suicide, I was exhausted with my life, I would cry for two hours. I only slept for around two hours. This lasted for 40 to 45 days. I wished to take a break from cricket. I was completely wrapped up in cricket. I couldn't focus. I would sleep for just two hours. I talked about my suicidal thoughts with a friend. I was really scared," he stated.

(Video Source: Raj Shamani)