Yuzvendra Chahal is India’s most successful IPL spinner and one of the most recognizable white-ball bowlers the country has produced – a leg-spinner who has taken over 230 IPL wickets, played 152 international matches for India, and built a massive following off the field through his comedy, gaming streams, and social media presence. This player profile breaks down his full career journey – from Mumbai Indians to RCB, Rajasthan Royals, and now Punjab Kings in 2026 – along with his complete IPL and international stats, his personal life including his marriage and divorce from Dhanashree Verma, his rumored relationship with RJ Mahvash, his net worth, and the controversies (including the 2026 vaping episode) that have kept him in the headlines beyond cricket.
Yuzvendra Chahal Player Profile
| Attribute | Detail |
| Full Name | Yuzvendra Singh Chahal |
| Nickname | Yuzi |
| Date of Birth | 23 July 1990 |
| Age | 36 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Jind, Haryana, India |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Role | Right-arm leg-break (leg-spin) bowler |
| Batting Style | Right-handed (lower order) |
| National Team | India (2016–2023) |
| Current IPL Team (2026) | Punjab Kings (PBKS) |
| IPL Debut | 2011 (Mumbai Indians) / first appearance 2013 |
| Domestic Team | Haryana |
| IPL Auction Price (2025 mega auction) | ₹18 crore |
| Marital Status | Divorced (formerly married to Dhanashree Verma) |
| Rumored Partner | RJ Mahvash |
| Education | Studied in Jind, Haryana; briefly pursued chess professionally as a junior |
Yuzvendra Chahal Early Life & Background
Chahal was born in Jind, a small town in Haryana, into a family with no cricketing pedigree. Before cricket, Chahal was a serious chess player – as a junior he represented India at the World Youth Chess Championship and won the U-11 national chess title in 2002, briefly considering chess as his primary sport before switching focus to cricket in his teenage years. He remains listed on the World Chess Federation (FIDE) database to this day.
Key milestones in his rise:
- Represented Haryana at Under-16 level as a leg-spinner
- Made his first-class debut for Haryana in 2009–10
- Took 34 wickets at the National Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy in 2009, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker
- Delivered a career-defining spell in the 2011–12 Ranji Trophy season, including a 9-wicket haul in an innings against Punjab – regarded as one of the best bowling figures in the tournament’s history
- Picked up by Mumbai Indians in the IPL shortly after, launching his professional T20 career
- Earned his maiden India call-up in 2016 for the tour of Zimbabwe
Chahal IPL Career Journey (Team-by-Team)
| Years | Team | Notes |
| 2011–2013 | Mumbai Indians | Bought as an uncapped player; played only one IPL match in three seasons, but starred with 2/9 in the 2011 Champions League T20 final as Mumbai defended their title |
| 2014–2021 | Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | Bought for his base price of ₹10 lakh in 2014; became RCB’s all-time leading wicket-taker over an 8-year stint |
| 2022–2024 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Bought for ₹6.5 crore at the 2022 mega auction; won the Purple Cap in 2022 with 27 wickets; formed a potent spin duo with Ravichandran Ashwin; became the first Indian to reach 300 T20 wickets during the 2023 season opener |
| 2025–present | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Bought for a record-breaking ₹18 crore at the 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, making him the most expensive spinner in IPL auction history; beat out interest from Lucknow Super Giants, RCB, and Sunrisers Hyderabad |
He was surprisingly not retained by RCB ahead of the 2022 mega auction, a decision that stunned fans given his production for the franchise, but he responded by delivering his best-ever IPL season with Rajasthan Royals that same year. Chahal has also turned out in English county cricket, signing short-term deals with Kent County Cricket Club (2023) and Northamptonshire (2024) during gaps in India’s international calendar.
Yuzvendra Chahal International Career
| Format | Span | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy |
| ODI | 2016–2023 | 72 | 121 | 6/42 | 27.13 | 5.26 |
| T20I | 2016–2023 | 80 | 96 | 6/25 | 25.09 | 8.19 |
Key international highlights:
- ODI debut: 11 June 2016 vs Zimbabwe; T20I debut: June 2016, same tour
- Last ODI: 24 January 2023 vs New Zealand; last T20I: 13 August 2023 vs West Indies
- Two ODI five-wicket hauls, both outside Asia – 5/22 vs South Africa in Centurion (2018) and 6/42 vs Australia at the MCG (2019)
- First Indian bowler, and first leg-spinner globally, to record both a five-wicket and a six-wicket haul in T20Is (6/25 vs England, Bengaluru, 2017)
- Member of India’s 2018 Asia Cup-winning squad and 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad, though he did not feature in any match of the 2024 tournament
- India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is (96 wickets), and 10th on the all-time T20I wicket-takers list
Chahal has not featured for the Indian team since 2023, with his focus since then centered on franchise cricket (IPL and English county cricket).
Yuzvendra Chahal Career Stats
| Metric (IPL, overall through 2026) | Total |
| Matches | 188+ |
| Wickets | 230+ (all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history) |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/40 |
| Bowling Average | ~22–23 |
| Economy Rate | ~7.9–8.0 |
| Purple Caps | 1 (2022, Rajasthan Royals – 27 wickets) |
| 4-Wicket Hauls | 8 |
| 5-Wicket Hauls | 1 |
| Hat-tricks | 1 |
| Batting Average | ~5–8 (recognized tailender, rarely required to bat) |
Season-by-season snapshot (recent seasons)
| Season | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Economy |
| 2026 | 14 | 12 | 3/36 | 9.39 |
| 2025 | 14 | 16 | 4/28 | 9.56 |
| 2024 | 15 | 18 | 3/11 | 9.41 |
| 2023 | 14 | 21 | 4/17 | 8.18 |
| 2022 | 17 | 27 | 5/40 | 7.75 |
| 2021 | 15 | 18 | 3/11 | 7.05 |
Career stats across formats (per ESPNcricinfo / Cricbuzz databases)
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best |
| First-Class | 41 | 115 | 33.79 | 3.15 | 9/99 |
| List A (all teams) | 136–138 | 219 | 24.91 | 4.81 | 6/24 |
| T20 (all teams combined) | 323 | 378 | 23.41 | 7.70 | 6/25 |
| ODI (India) | 72 | 121 | 27.13 | 5.26 | 6/42 |
| T20I (India) | 80 | 96 | 25.09 | 8.19 | 6/25 |
Yuzvendra Chahal T20 Stats
| Competition | Matches | Wickets | Best Figures | Economy |
| T20Is (India) | 80 | 96 | 6/25 | 8.19 |
| IPL (career, all franchises) | 188+ | 230+ | 5/40 | ~7.9–8.0 |
| All T20 cricket combined | 323 | 378 | 6/25 | 7.70 |
T20-specific highlights:
- First Indian bowler to take a six-wicket haul in T20I cricket (6/25 vs England, Bengaluru, 2017)
- First bowler in IPL history to reach 200 career wickets (2024), and later the first to cross 230
- First Indian to complete 300 wickets across all T20 cricket, achieved during Rajasthan Royals’ opening match of the 2023 IPL season
- Took the most wickets (23) of any bowler in T20Is during the 2017 calendar year
- Regarded as one of the best “middle-overs enforcers” of the T20 era, alongside contemporaries like Rashid Khan and Sunil Narine
Records of Yuzvendra Chahal
- T20 World Cup champion – 2024 (West Indies & USA)
- Asia Cup champion – 2018 (UAE)
- IPL Purple Cap winner – 2022
- All-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history, surpassing Dwayne Bravo’s long-standing record
- First bowler in IPL history to reach 200 career wickets (2024)
- Best-ever bowling figures in Ranji Trophy history – 9 wickets in an innings vs Punjab
- Most expensive spinner in IPL auction history – ₹18 crore (2025 mega auction)
- Only Indian bowler with five-wicket hauls in both ODI and T20I cricket, alongside a career T20 hat-trick
- Only Indian bowler with two ODI five-wicket hauls taken outside Asia
- First Indian bowler, and first leg-spinner globally, to record both a five-wicket and a six-wicket haul in T20I cricket
- Longtime record-holder as RCB’s highest wicket-taker across their franchise history (139 wickets in 113 matches)
- First Indian to reach 300 wickets across all T20 cricket (2023)
Bowling Style & Strengths
- Classical, old-school leg-break action with heavy reliance on flight and drift rather than pure pace variations
- Known for tossing the ball up and inviting the batter to attack – a rare, high-risk/high-reward approach in modern T20 cricket
- Strong temperament under pressure; frequently used in the crucial middle overs of white-ball innings
- Effective googly and top-spinner as stock variations
- Regarded as one of the best “middle-overs enforcers” of the T20 era, alongside contemporaries like Rashid Khan and Sunil Narine
Yuzvendra Chahal Personal Life
Chahal met choreographer, dentist-turned-content-creator Dhanashree Verma during the COVID-19 lockdown, reaching out to her online for dance lessons. The couple got engaged in September 2020 and married in December 2020 in a private ceremony in Gurugram; Dhanashree later shared the story of how they met on the reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 11.
The Divorce
| Date | Event |
| Mid-2022 | Couple reportedly begins living separately |
| 2023 | First divorce rumors surface after both unfollow each other on Instagram; Chahal denies the rumors publicly |
| 5 February 2025 | Couple files for divorce by mutual consent in a Mumbai family court |
| February 2025 | Family court initially refuses to waive the mandatory 6-month “cooling-off” period |
| March 2025 | Bombay High Court grants a waiver of the cooling-off period, citing Chahal’s upcoming IPL commitments |
| March 2025 | Bandra Family Court formally grants the divorce – marriage officially dissolved |
Reports alleging Dhanashree had demanded ₹60 crore (~$7 million) in alimony were denied by her family as baseless. Chahal drew attention for wearing a T-shirt with a cheeky slogan while leaving the courthouse after the divorce was finalized, and Dhanashree has since spoken publicly about the split in interviews, to which Chahal responded with a cryptic social media post acknowledging the emotional weight of the moment. Post-divorce, Dhanashree has continued her entertainment career, appearing in film dance numbers and preparing for an acting debut.
Rumored Relationship with RJ Mahvash
Since the divorce, Chahal has been frequently linked with radio jockey and social media personality RJ Mahvash. The two have been spotted together multiple times, including a widely-shared surprise flash-mob birthday celebration organized for Chahal in London, reportedly arranged by Mahvash. Chahal appeared to hint at the relationship during an appearance on a popular Indian celebrity talk show, and in 2026 Mahvash publicly stated she would stand by him amid an unrelated online controversy involving his name – though neither party has issued an explicit public confirmation of the relationship itself.
Yuzvendra Chahal Family Details
Chahal grew up in a middle-class family in Jind, Haryana. His father, K.K. Chahal, works as an advocate and was himself a university-level cricketer, and it was he who coached Yuzvendra in their backyard during his early years. His mother, Sunita Devi, is a homemaker and is often described as the emotional pillar of the family. Chahal has two elder sisters, Geetanjali Chahal and Neel Chahal, with whom he shares a close bond and frequently features in his social media posts; he even has a tattoo dedicated to his nephew, Shivansh. The family has largely stayed away from the media spotlight, though Chahal has occasionally asked fans and press to respect their privacy, particularly during the period of speculation around his divorce.
| Relation | Name | Details |
| Father | K.K. Chahal | Advocate in Jind, Haryana; a former university-level cricketer |
| Mother | Sunita Devi | Homemaker |
| Sister | Geetanjali Chahal | Elder sister |
| Sister | Neel Chahal | Elder sister |
| Ex-wife | Dhanashree Verma | Dancer, choreographer, dentist, and YouTuber; married Dec 2020, divorced March 2025 |
Yuzvendra Chahal House and Car Collection
House: Chahal lives in a plush, well-appointed home in Gurugram, Haryana, where he has been based with his parents for much of his career. The house reflects his personal interests, including a dedicated space for his chess memorabilia and gym equipment, and has frequently featured in the lifestyle videos and reels he shares on social media.
Car Collection: Chahal is known to be a genuine car enthusiast, and his garage is a mix of performance SUVs and full-blown supercars built up over the course of his career:
| Car | Approx. Price | Notes |
| Porsche Cayenne S | ₹1–1.9 crore | 5-seater performance SUV; added to his garage in November 2019 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | ₹55–66 lakh | Used for regular city driving and business meetings |
| Lamborghini Centenario | ₹6.25 crore | Limited-edition supercar, with only 40 units made globally |
| Rolls-Royce Wraith | Several crore (exact price undisclosed) | Ultra-luxury grand tourer in his collection |
Various reports describe this as an evolving collection, with additional luxury vehicles added over the years as his IPL earnings have grown.
Social Media Profiles and Online Presence
Chahal is among the most followed Indian cricketers on social media, with a persona built more around comedy, gaming streams, and everyday vlogging than around cricket highlights alone. His Instagram handle, @yuzi_chahal23, has crossed 11 million followers, making it one of the most-followed accounts among current Indian cricketers outside the top order batters. On X (formerly Twitter), his handle @yuzi_chahal has close to 4 million followers and dates back to 2011, well before his international debut, and he is also active on Facebook through an official fan page with over a million followers.
Beyond static posts, Chahal runs a personal YouTube channel featuring travel vlogs, training footage, gaming streams (particularly BGMI), and behind-the-scenes content with teammates like Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh, which has become a significant part of his public identity outside the cricket field. He first went viral outside cricket circles during the 2020 lockdown with a series of TikTok dance videos alongside his family, and has since carried that same easy, comedic energy across Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. This heavy online presence has been a double-edged sword – it has fuelled his commercial appeal and endorsement deals, but has also repeatedly placed him at the centre of viral controversies and trolling cycles, as seen in the 2026 vaping clip and the Taniya Chatterjee episode.
Players Chahal Has Publicly Supported and Bonded With
Beyond his own bowling exploits, Chahal is well known within Indian cricket for the camaraderie he shares with fellow players, both on and off the field. His most enduring bond is with fellow wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav – the pair are affectionately nicknamed cricket’s “spin twins” or “Kul-Cha” by fans, and have combined for match-winning spells for India while regularly backing each other through banter, matching celebrations, and joint media and gaming appearances. During his RCB years, Chahal built a close rapport with senior pros such as AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli, even publicly apologising to de Villiers on social media after accidentally injuring him during an on-field celebration in 2016. At Rajasthan Royals, he formed a potent bowling partnership with senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, and has spoken warmly about teammates like Rishabh Pant, with whom he trained during international tours. He has also stood up for teammates dragged into unwanted narratives, saying in a 2026 interview that being trolled himself doesn’t bother him, but that it becomes unfair the moment someone else’s name gets pulled into the story.
Net Worth
| Estimate Range | Approx. USD |
| ₹45 crore – ₹150 crore | $7 million – $20 million |
Public estimates of Chahal’s net worth vary widely depending on the source, and none should be treated as officially verified. Reported income sources include his IPL salary (currently ₹18 crore per season with Punjab Kings – the highest of his career), his BCCI annual central contract, match fees from his India duty between 2016 and 2023, brand endorsements reportedly worth ₹5–10 crore annually, business ventures including a personal clothing/lifestyle brand, and YouTube and social media content monetization.
Yuzvendra Chahal Endorsements & Brand Deals
Chahal has built one of the more recognizable personal brands among Indian cricketers, driven largely by his comedic, self-deprecating social media presence. Reported partnerships over the years include:
- Gillette
- Pepsi
- Nike
- Clove Dental
- Acuvue
- Porsche
- Various fantasy sports and gaming platforms (Rooter, Moj, FanCraze, Playing11, among others reported at different points)
His entrepreneurial ventures reportedly include a personal apparel/lifestyle line and a YouTube channel where he documents travel, training, and everyday life – a channel that has become a significant part of his public persona outside the cricket field.
Yuzvendra Chahal Controversies & Off-Field Incidents
Vaping Controversy (May 2026): A clip circulated on social media appearing to show Chahal using a vape/e-cigarette aboard a Punjab Kings team flight from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad, ahead of a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The footage reportedly came from teammate Arshdeep Singh’s travel vlog, with the relevant portion later missing from the version published on his channel – fuelling further speculation. The incident closely followed a separate episode involving Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag, who was caught on broadcast cameras vaping in the dressing room and was fined 25% of his match fee plus a demerit point by the BCCI. Former spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan publicly criticized what he called lenient enforcement of the BCCI’s vaping ban across such incidents. Neither Chahal nor Punjab Kings issued an official statement confirming or denying the video’s authenticity.
Defamation Dispute with Taniya Chatterjee (April 2026): Actress Taniya Chatterjee went public claiming Chahal had messaged her calling her “cute” on Instagram back in 2023, sharing purported chat screenshots. The clip went viral, drawing scrutiny given the timing coincided with Chahal’s marriage at the time. Chahal’s team reportedly sent a defamation notice; Chatterjee said she had done nothing wrong and was facing unwarranted trolling as a result. An unrelated Instagram post of Chahal with women’s cricketer Harleen Deol was also swept into the ensuing troll cycle.
Bullying Allegations at Mumbai Indians (2011–2013): Chahal has spoken publicly about being bullied by senior teammates during his early years at Mumbai Indians. In one incident he recounted, a heavily intoxicated senior teammate reportedly dangled him from a 15th-floor hotel balcony during a team gathering. He has also alleged that then-teammates James Franklin and Andrew Symonds once tied him up and left him in a room in 2011.
Public Persona & Social Media: Known for playful banter with fellow wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav – the pair are affectionately nicknamed cricket’s “spin twins” by fans for their off-field pranks and matching on-field celebrations. Chahal frequently trends on social media for candid, humorous posts, often more viral than his on-field performances.
Comparisons: Chahal vs Other Leading T20 Spinners
| Player | IPL Wickets | IPL Average | Style |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 230+ | ~22–23 | Classical leg-spin, flighted deliveries |
| Rashid Khan | 200+ | ~20 | Quicker, flatter leg-spin/googly |
| Sunil Narine | 190+ | ~24 | Off-spin, mystery variations |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 190+ | ~30 | Off-spin, carrom ball |
Chahal remains distinct among his peers for combining a genuinely old-school, high-flight leg-spin action with elite modern-day wicket-taking numbers – a rare balance in a format that typically rewards flatter, quicker bowling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Born 23 July 1990, he is 36 years old as of 2026.
5 ft 6 in (168 cm).
Punjab Kings (PBKS), bought for a record ₹18 crore.
Over 230 – the all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history.
No. He was married to Dhanashree Verma from December 2020 to March 2025.
RJ Mahvash, though neither has officially confirmed the relationship.
Roughly ₹45–150 crore ($7–20 million); no verified figure exists.
Yes – the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2018 Asia Cup with India.
RCB left a retention slot empty rather than retain him; he moved to Rajasthan Royals.
A May 2026 video allegedly showed him vaping on a team flight; its authenticity was never confirmed.
No, his last appearances were in 2023; he now focuses on franchise and county cricket.
Chess – he competed at the Under-12 national level before switching to cricket.
Most notably Kuldeep Yadav (“Kul-Cha”), plus AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Arshdeep Singh.
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