‘I skipped a few major cricket tournaments’: Yuzvendra Chahal speaks about moving on after divorce from Dhanashree Verma; expert on what real closure looks like

Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma announced their divorce last year (Source: Instagram/Tarun Tahiliani)

Divorce and separation often mark the end of one chapter, but the emotional aftershocks can linger far longer than legal proceedings. Speaking to Mashable India about his divorce from Dhanashree Verma, cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal described the process of mentally closing that chapter and choosing not to remain emotionally attached to it. “It was a chapter in my life, which is over now. I’ve left that space now. I don’t want to remain stuck there,” he said, adding, “I’m happy in my life, she’s happy in hers. What is one going to get by making someone miserable?”

While the public conversation around his divorce largely revolved around reported alimony of Rs 4 crore and social media speculation, Chahal clarified that, for him, the emotional closure came swiftly. “It was done and dusted right after stepping out of the court,” he said, indicating that legal finality can sometimes help people psychologically move forward, even if public narratives continue to follow them.

Chahal also addressed the scrutiny that followed him after his divorce, maintaining that he is “happily single” and that the women he is seen with are friends. He admitted to briefly trying a dating app but said he didn’t understand the concept and deleted his account.

On online abuse, he shared, “When people love you so much, there’s going to be a little bit of hate there as well. But it doesn’t affect me much. I’ve seen it all — trolling and abuses on social media. I’ve left that behind now. If people want to abuse me, it’s okay if that makes them happy.”

More importantly, Chahal revealed that the emotional toll of the divorce impacted his mental health deeply. “My mind wasn’t in the right place when I was going through my divorce. Which is why I skipped a few major cricket tournaments last year,” he confessed, adding that support from his mentor, Aniruddh sir, helped him recover.

Counselling psychologist Athul Raj tells indianexpress.com, “Divorce shakes the inner foundation of a person’s life. It disrupts emotional security, daily structure, and one’s sense of self. Many people are silently juggling grief, shame, anger, and fear, which creates constant mental noise. That strain shows up at work as reduced focus, fluctuating confidence, or emotional detachment rather than outright failure.”

Early signs are often understated: disturbed sleep, irritability, withdrawing from conversations, or functioning efficiently but without feeling invested. “One common signal is emotional dullness — achievements stop bringing satisfaction, and setbacks don’t register. People may appear composed and productive, but internally they feel disconnected,” notes the expert.

Healthy closure is not about erasing pain or rushing healing. It means the experience no longer dictates how you feel or function in the present. You can recall what happened without being overwhelmed by it.

“Closure involves grieving fully — the relationship, the imagined future, and the loss of certainty. Suppressing emotions may look controlled, but it often resurfaces as bitterness, emotional shutdown, or self-sabotage. Real closure allows sadness and forward movement to coexist. People move toward it by acknowledging the truth of what happened, processing emotions deliberately — often with support — and rebuilding routine, purpose, and boundaries. Letting go is not denial; it is integrating the experience so it no longer defines you,” concludes Raj.