Yuzvendra Chahal Responds to Social Media Rumours with Confidence

Yuzvendra Chahal might not be featuring in India's international sides as regularly as he used to, but the leg-spinner certainly continues to remain at the centre of attention for reasons that go well beyond cricket. From social media talk to speculation around his personal life and intense online debates involving Indian players, Chahal stays firmly in the public spotlight — sometimes for reasons he would prefer to avoid.

And over the years, this Haryana-born spinner has managed an enviable career, both for India and within the Indian Premier League, where he has represented several franchises and established himself as one of the competition's most consistent bowlers. But as Chahal points out, with attention in today's game comes a literally impossible downside to shake off.

The spinner had recently attended a India Today's event is named "Salam Cricket" where he claimed that he has learned to handle public attention, even when it becomes intrusive, as long as it does not cross acceptable boundaries. On India Today's Salaam Cricket, Chahal said,

“I don’t mind it a little bit as long as it’s about me, in a good, positive way, or even in a fun way. That’s part of the profession. You’re in the public eye, and people will talk.”

He insists the problem starts when speculation begins pulling others into the story without their knowledge or consent.

He also said:

“When you start associating someone else’s name with it, that’s when it becomes wrong. They don’t know anything about it, and suddenly they’re being discussed for no reason.”

Friends Wrongly Linked by Rumours

Chahal pointed out how simple social interactions are often misunderstood, especially in a cricket-obsessed country where players’ personal lives are always under close watch.

He said:

“It’s not necessary that if a boy and a girl are going out, they’re boyfriend and girlfriend or that something is going on. Sometimes you’re just meeting friends.”

He remembered how, on a visit to Mumbai recently, the first in months, he preferred to go out for dinner rather than stay in his hotel. What he did was a normal outing that became a thing of speculation on the Net.

Chahal said:

“I don’t even know who invited me or how it became such a big deal. I just went out for dinner. That’s it. I can adjust, but what about family?"

Besides, when asked about whether he has developed a thick skin over all these, he said that it definitely has an emotional impact, not only on him but also on his closest ones. He also said that he doesn't care, but his sisters and parents are also with him most of the times and that they too read everything on the internet.

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For Chahal, that is where the buck should stop. The families, unlike public figures, do not seek scrutiny, but bear all the barbs for online gossip. Rather than responding to each rumour, Chahal has opted to ignore the noise entirely.

He added:

“How many things will you silence?” he asked. “If I start speaking against everyone, I can do that. But how many people will you stop? Whoever wants to print it, let them print it,” he said. “I’m getting free publicity. I’m in the news for free. Let it be.”

Fan Arguments Going Out of Control

Chahal also spoke about the wider social media culture around Indian cricket, where strong fan loyalty often turns into hostility towards other players. According to Chahal, fans do not realize that anyone representing India, even for a brief time, has already achieved something extraordinary. 

Ignoring Noise and Keeping Perspective

However, Chahal, who moved away from international cricket, remains a high-profile figure, not just by virtue of his achievements but as a result of the attention that comes with them. His new perspective seems entirely based on confidence. 

In a world where attention is instantaneous and judgment relentless, Chahal's words contain a simple message: fame cannot come at the cost of empathy, and public figures, like everyone else in the world, deserve decency, on and off the field.

He said:

“I know what kind of person I am,” he said. “My family knows. My friends know. That’s enough for me.”