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"I stopped drinking alcohol": Yuzvendra Chahal makes a big revelation ahead of IPL 2026
Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has made a big change ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026, revealing that he has stopped consuming alcohol to improve his fitness and performance. Chahal, who will represent Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, shared insights into his personal life during a candid podcast conversation with South African legend AB de Villiers.
Speaking openly, the veteran spinner said that maintaining peak physical condition has become a top priority at this stage of his career. The leg-spinner’s revelation comes on the back of a solid campaign in the 2025 Indian Premier League, where Punjab Kings enjoyed one of their most successful runs in recent years. Chahal played a crucial role throughout the tournament, delivering key performances that helped the team reach the final.
"I stopped drinking alcohol. It’s been more than six months. I am 35 now. I want to be more active, and I want to give 150 per cent for my team. As a senior bowler, if I go to the IPL, I want people to see me and think ‘we have to learn something from him’,” Chahal told De Villiers on the latter's YouTube show.
Punjab Kings' campaign in 2025 ended in heartbreak as they narrowly lost the final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by just six runs. Reflecting on the loss, Chahal felt that Marco Jansen's availability would have helped them make it all the way.
“In the final, we missed Jansen as he was not there. If he were there, we would have definitely won the championship," Chahal said.
“The way he bowled throughout the tournament was brilliant, and batting too, he was capable of hitting two to three sixes in the end. We are even more confident now because of the way he is bowling. It's not going to be easy for the opposition openers," he added.
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