In a recent and candid interview, Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal has opened up about his divorce from Dhanashree Verma, revealing that their separation was not a sudden event but rather a drawn-out process. Chahal admitted that they had been "faking" their marriage for quite some time before making their decision to part ways public.
Chahal explained that they chose to keep their struggles private, maintaining a facade of normalcy on social media until they were certain about ending their marriage. "Kaafi time se chal raha tha (It was going on for a long time)," Chahal said in a podcast interview. "We decided that we don't want to show the people jab tak nahi ho jaata kyunki kya pata naa bhi hota (until it happens, because on the other hand, maybe we would not have separated). Humara yeh tha ki jab tak hum ek point pe jaa ke pahunchenge nahi (We decided that unless we decide), we are not going to say anything. We were like a normal couple on social media".
When asked directly if he had been faking the marriage, projecting an image that everything was alright in the hope that their decision to divorce might change, Chahal confirmed that he had. He acknowledged that there was a part of him that hoped they could reconcile.
Chahal further elaborated on what went wrong in his relationship with Verma. He described marriage as a "compromise" and highlighted that their inability to spend quality time together due to their demanding careers worsened the situation. Chahal is a professional cricketer with a busy schedule, and Verma is a social media influencer and choreographer with her own commitments. He noted that while compromise is essential in a relationship, sometimes the natures of two people simply don't align, leading to conflict. "Mereko lagta hai relationship is like a compromise. Agar ek ko gussa ata hai toh dusre ko chup rehna padega. Kayi baar do logon ka nature nahi milta hai (I feel like a relationship is about compromise. If one person gets angry, the other has to stay quiet. Sometimes, two people just don't have compatible natures)," he said.
The cricketer also addressed the rumors of infidelity that arose during the divorce proceedings, vehemently denying them. "When I was going through the divorce thing, people labeled me as a cheater. I have never cheated," Chahal stated. "You won't get a more loyal person than me. Just because you're seen with someone, people link you up and write for views. I have two sisters, I know how to respect women".
Chahal also opened up about the emotional and mental health struggles he faced during this difficult period. He admitted that the mental strain took a significant toll. "For one month, I used to sleep for only two hours". He also revealed that he last spoke to Verma six months prior during a video call for their court hearing, and that they hadn't spoken after the World Cup 2024.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma officially parted ways on March 20, 2025.
