Yuzvendra Chahal has changed his lifestyle and chosen to give up alcohol in an effort to improve his confidence and level of fitness going into the next IPL 2026 season. In a podcast with AB de Villiers, Chahal, who will play for the Punjab Kings in the upcoming season, shared details about his personal life. After a poor start, Chahal had a respectable season with PBKS in 2025.
As PBKS advanced to the final, where they were defeated by RCB, the leg-spinner claimed 16 wickets in 14 games. Chahal informed De Villiers that he is keen to play well in the competition and hopes to break the IPL title curse with Punjab. The spinner added that he decided to give up drinking because he wanted to set an example for the team’s younger players.
It has been over six months since I gave up booze. Now that I’m 35, I want to be more involved and give my team my all. “I want people in the IPL to learn something from me as a senior player,” Chahal stated.
WHAT CAUSED CHAHAL TO PRIORITISE HEALTH?
Chahal said that he was dissatisfied with his performance in the 2025 Indian Premier League because of rib and knuckle injuries. The spinner stated that he wanted to prioritise his health and make sure he was performing at his best in the forthcoming season.
“I felt a little let down by myself. I broke my ribs after the KKR game, and then I broke my knuckle. I was therefore unable to bowl my proper leg-spin in the quarterfinal and final. “I want to prioritise taking care of my body this year,” Chahal stated.
Additionally, Chahal hopes to use IPL 2026 as a means of re-entering the Indian team’s contention. Chahal has been sidelined since his last international match for India in 2023.
