Player Interviews: Was Yuzvendra Chahal Faking His Relationship with Dhanashree Verma?

The two have now parted ways, divorced, and are living their lives separately. While rumors and speculations had been circulating for a long time, the truth had never been openly shared. Recently, in a podcast, Yuzvendra Chahal finally spoke about his relationship, the challenges they faced, and what led to their divorce. Here’s how the real story unfolded between them.

Was Yuzvendra Chahal Having Suicidal Thoughts After His Separation?

Coming to the much-discussed separation between Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma, the Indian leg-spinner has finally spoken openly about what happened, why their marriage ended, and how the public reaction deeply affected him. Chahal, 35, shared his story in an interview with Raj Shamani on YouTube, explaining the emotional and mental challenges he faced during this difficult phase. Chahal and Dhanashree tied the knot in 2020, but by their third year of marriage, differences had started to surface.

According to Chahal, the cracks in the relationship were visible to them for quite some time, but they chose not to reveal anything publicly until the separation was certain. They decided to keep things normal on social media, presenting themselves as a couple, because they were unsure of how things might turn out. Only once they reached what he described as the “point of no return” did they proceed with a divorce, which was finalised in May 2025. Opening up about why the relationship fell apart, Chahal explained that both he and Dhanashree were completely absorbed in their respective careers. He said:

It was going on for a long while. We decided we do not want to show the people. Who knew if it did not happen? Maybe it will become a different scenario. We were like until we reached a point of no return, we are not going to say anything. We will be like a normal couple on social media. A relationship is like a compromise. If one gets angry, the other has to listen. Sometimes the nature of two people does not match. I was playing for India, she was also doing her. This was going on for 1-2 years.

His commitments with the Indian cricket team and her professional pursuits meant they struggled to make enough time for each other. Over one to two years, this created an emotional distance. Chahal said relationships need compromise, and sometimes when two personalities or ambitions do not match, problems grow. As two ambitious people, they respected each other’s goals but could not balance them with the demands of marriage. Chahal also addressed one of the most hurtful aspects of his divorce, the cheating allegations that surfaced online.

He made it clear that he had never been unfaithful and strongly rejected such claims. He described himself as a loyal person who always gives more than he demands in relationships. Growing up with two sisters, he was taught how to respect women, and his upbringing had shaped his values. For him, it was unfair that people without any knowledge of the situation spread damaging rumours just to gain attention. However, the damage caused by public judgment and false accusations was significant. Chahal admitted that this period of his life was one of his darkest. He further added:

At that point, I was so much into it, I had to give time here, give time there. I was not able to think about the relationship. Then it happens every day, you think, leave it. Two ambitious people can stay together. Everyone has their own lives. Everyone has their own goals. As a partner, you have to support it. You are working for something for 18-20 years, you cannot leave it for a relationship. I think when my divorce happened, people alleged me of being a cheater. I have never cheated in my life. I am not that kind of a person. You won’t find anyone more loyal than me. I think from my heart for my closed ones, always. I do not demand, I always give. When people don’t know anything, but they keep blaming me, so you start thinking [otherwise].

The mix of personal loss and online trolling severely affected his mental health. He revealed that he went through bouts of depression, spent nights crying for hours, and had thoughts of ending his life. At one stage, he could barely sleep more than two hours a night for over 40 days. His mind was constantly troubled, and he shared his suicidal thoughts with a close friend out of fear and helplessness. He concluded with:

Because I have two sisters and have grown up with them since childhood, I know how to respect women, because my parents have taught me how to respect them. I’ve learnt my life lessons from people around me. It is not necessary that if my name is being linked to someone, people get to write anything about it, only for views. I had suicidal thoughts, I was tired of my life, I used to cry for 2 hours. I used to sleep just for 2 hours. It went for 40-45 days. I wanted a break from cricket. I was so busy in cricket. I was not able to concentrate. I used to sleep for 2 hours. Used to share suicidal thoughts with my friend. I used to get scared.

He even considered taking a break from cricket because the mental strain was becoming too much to handle. While he was busy with matches, his thoughts kept returning to his problems, making it hard to focus on the game. This was a period where he felt exhausted both mentally and emotionally. In speaking out, Chahal shed light on the unseen emotional battles public figures face, especially when private matters become public gossip.

How did Chahal Respond to “Be Your Own Sugar Daddy”?

For the last several months, Yuzvendra Chahal’s personal life has been in focus due to his divorce from Dhanashree Verma. The matter gained extra attention during their final court hearing when Chahal appeared wearing a black t-shirt with the words “Be Your Sugar Daddy” printed in white. The attire drew public interest and was widely discussed online. The incident occurred on the day the couple was scheduled for their final divorce proceedings. Chahal later explained in an interview that the choice of t-shirt was intentional and aimed at sending a specific message.

He clarified that he did not originally plan to wear it but decided to do so after an incident involving the other party before the hearing. He stated that the purpose was to deliver a message without using offensive language or directly targeting anyone. Leading up to the divorce, there were widespread rumours that Dhanashree had asked for Rs 60 crore in alimony. Her family publicly denied these claims, but Chahal confirmed that discussions over the settlement were challenging. He said:

Mereko nahi karna tha drama (I didn’t want to do any drama). I just wanted to give one message and maine woh de diya (which I gave through the T-shirt). Kyunki saamne se kuch cheez hua tha, aur mera pehle mann nahi tha. Fir saamne se kuch hua toh fir maine kaaha ab sambhaal lo, ab mujhe nahi parwah kisi ki. Maine na kisi ko abuse kra, bus mujhe message dena tha (Something happened from the other side, and I didn’t initially intend to respond. But then something happened, and I thought, ‘Enough is enough, now I don’t care about anyone.’ I didn’t abuse anyone; I just wanted to convey my message). I had signed a good deal.

He did not share the exact amount agreed upon, but said that he was satisfied with the outcome and considered the agreement to be in his favour. Chahal and Dhanashree’s relationship began during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. At that time, Chahal contacted her for dance lessons, which led to them meeting and eventually forming a relationship. They got married in December 2020 in a private ceremony attended by close family and friends. Their marriage lasted around four years before the separation process began, ending in an official divorce earlier this year.

The final hearing marked the legal conclusion of their marriage. Chahal’s t-shirt choice became the most talked-about aspect of the day, as it was seen as a public statement on his position regarding the separation. While he avoided revealing detailed reasons for the split or specifics of the settlement, he made it clear that certain actions before the court appearance influenced his decision to make a visible statement.

How Did Yuzvendra Chahal React to Dating Rumours with RJ Mahvash?

After the end of his marriage with Dhanashree Verma, Yuzvendra Chahal has spoken openly about the rumours linking him with RJ Mahvash. In a recent conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast, the Indian leg-spinner firmly denied any romantic involvement with her and defended Mahvash against the online hate she has faced. Chahal explained that the speculation began when they were spotted together at the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai. Although it was their first public appearance together, social media quickly started linking them as a couple.

Mahvash herself had clarified there was nothing romantic between them, but the trolling only grew stronger. She was even labelled a “homewrecker,” something that deeply upset him. He stressed that Mahvash had been a supportive friend during a difficult period in his life, and it hurt to see her being targeted in such a way. The cricketer also addressed some specific incidents that were misrepresented online. One was a Christmas dinner photo that went viral. He said:

No, there’s nothing. People can think whatever they want to think. It will take time to process. I need to gather myself. I’m not afraid to fall in love again, but I’m scared of losing the person because I get attached with all my heart. We had a Christmas dinner with five people, but the photo was cropped to make it look like just the two of us were on a dinner date.

According to Chahal, there were five people present at the dinner, but the image was cropped to make it appear as if it was just him and Mahvash on a private date. Another instance involved Mahvash picking him up from a hotel to drop him at the airport. While he was simply fixing his hair in the car, someone filmed them, and it was quickly turned into false claims that they were leaving a hotel room together. Chahal said such assumptions were “too much” and unfair. He emphasised that he is still healing from his separation and not in a position to think about a new relationship. The leg-spinner said people are free to assume whatever they want, but the truth is that he and Mahvash are just close friends.