• Source:JND

IPL 2026: Sidelined by the Indian team, star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has dropped a bombshell and said that he has stopped drinking alcohol as he gears up for the upcoming edition of the IPL. Chahal, who will be representing the Punjab Kings, talked about his personal life in a recent interaction with the legendary AB de Villiers. He has performed brilliantly in IPL 2025 and helped the team finish as runners-up, losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the summit clash. He said he doesn't want to lift the trophy, but also enter the tournament riding high on confidence and better fitness.

“I've stopped drinking alcohol, and it's been more than six months. I am now 35, so I want to be more active and give my 150% for my team. As a senior player, I want people in the IPL to learn something from me," Chahal was quoted as saying on Ab de Villiers' YouTube show.

The Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings had a dream run last season in IPL 2025, with Chahal delivering standout performances. Despite their strong showing, they narrowly missed out on the title by losing the final by six runs. Chahal expressed disappointment with the outcome and discussed a key factor behind their defeat.

ALSO READ: RR’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: A ‘Freak’ Driven Solely By Batting

“In the final, we missed (Marco) Jansen as he was not there. If he were there, we would have definitely won the championship," he added.

“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 said.

Chahal admitted to being disappointed with his recent top-level performance and has promised to return to IPL 2026 with improved fitness, having learned from his experience last season.

ALSO READ:  No Pat Cummins, No Problem? Sunrisers Hyderabad Face Big Test In IPL 2026

“I was a bit disappointed with myself. After the KKR game, I had a rib fracture, and later, my knuckle got fractured. So in the semifinal and the final, I wasn't able to bowl my proper leg spin. This year, I want to take care of my body first," he concluded.

 


Also In News