Mumbai: In a rare and deeply emotional conversation, India’s premier leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has broken his silence on his much-speculated divorce from influencer and choreographer Dhanashree Verma, revealing the mental health toll it took on him and the effort it took to keep up appearances during the split.

Speaking on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Chahal confessed that for months, he and Dhanashree chose to portray themselves as a “normal couple” on social media, even as their relationship was quietly falling apart in private.

“It was going on for a long while… We decided not to show it to people. Until we reached the point of the end, we were going to act like a normal couple. Yes, I was faking it,” Chahal admitted.

“I had suicidal thoughts”: Chahal opens up about mental health struggles

The cricketer also revealed the emotional trauma he endured during this period including severe anxiety, sleep deprivation, and thoughts of self-harm.

“For one month, I used to sleep for only two hours… I had suicidal thoughts. I told my friends. I started getting anxiety attacks, but I never spoke about it publicly,” he said.

He credited his close friends Prateek Pawar, Priyank Tehlan, Mahvash, and his family for standing by him during the darkest phase of his life. “They would drop everything to be with me. Even fly down if I needed them,” he shared.

"Not dating anyone": Cricketer denies link-up rumours

Amid rumours linking him to Mahvash, Chahal clarified that he is not dating anyone currently. On being asked if he is open to love again, he said, “It will take time. I am not scared of love, but I am scared to lose.”

“I have never cheated”: Chahal on trolls and false allegations

Addressing the online speculation and harsh public judgment that followed his divorce, Chahal said he was deeply hurt by the false allegations of infidelity.

“People labelled me a cheater. I have never cheated, I’m not that kind of a person. I have two sisters. I know how to respect women. My close ones know I’ve done nothing wrong. Why should I keep proving myself to others?”

He also expressed frustration with how social media sensationalised his personal life, saying people linked him with others “just for views.”

The cricketer also drew attention for his "Be your own sugar daddy" T-shirt, which he wore to court during divorce proceedings. When asked about the message behind it, he cryptically said, “Something happened from the other side, so I wanted to give this message.”