Yuzvendra Chahal Smoking and Throwing a Lit Cigarette on the Road While Driving His Porsche Doesn’t Sit Well with Fans

Yuzvendra Chahal also faced media attention in the past following rumors of a potential relationship between the leg-spinner and RJ Mahvash.

Yuzvendra Chahal Smoking and Throwing a Lit Cigarette on the Road While Driving His Porsche Doesn’t Sit Well with Fans

Yuzvendra Chahal was allegedly spotted smoking in a car, before he threw the cigarette butt out of the window onto the street. (via India Today)

In Short
  • Yuzvendra Chahal is facing backlash after a video surfaced showing him smoking and throwing a lit cigarette out of his car while driving in Chandigarh.
  • The authenticity of the video remains unverified, but it has sparked debates about Chahal's civic responsibility and public image.
  • Chahal had recently committed to quitting negative habits, including alcohol, to improve his performance in the IPL.

A shocking video circulating on social media has landed veteran Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in a new controversy. The viral footage captured a person resembling the 35-year-old smoking while driving his car in Chandigarh and then tossing the lit cigarette onto the street.

Yuzvendra Chahal has endured a steady run in the IPL this summer, having picked up three wickets in four matches at an average of 27.33. He has, in fact, been one of PBKS’s top bowlers in the campaign so far, with best figures of 2/28 during their season-opener against the Gujarat Titans. At 35 years old, Chahal’s international career is more or less over, given he has not played a T20I for India since August 2023. 

More recently, the ‘smoking’ controversy seems to have dented the veteran leg-spinner’s image. A clip has sparked a heated debate about Chahal’s civic responsibility and discipline. It was reportedly shot by a commuter who was traveling in his car through the streets of Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. In the video, a man looking like Yuzvendra Chahal can be seen driving a car next to the person recording. 

While the authenticity of the video has yet to be verified, it purportedly shows the man, allegedly Chahal, in a black Porsche Boxster taking a puff from a cigarette. He then carelessly tossed the cigarette butt through the car’s window onto the road, before speeding away. The clip has drawn the ire of fans on social media, who have suggested that the PBKS player lacks ‘class’ despite his immense fandom.

What is also surprising to many is the fact that the 35-year-old had recently made a commitment to give up negative habits in an effort to overcome recurring injury issues. Chahal had, in fact, on a podcast with South African great AB de Villiers, revealed that he had completely stopped consuming alcohol for more than six months. The controversy also contributes to the media coverage that the player has faced over the years, particularly due to his much-publicized divorce with Dhanashree Verma.

Neither PBKS nor Chahal has, at this time, provided an official statement. Major news outlets have noted that they might not be able to independently verify that the individual in question was Yuzvendra Chahal, despite the resemblance.

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Controversy hits IPL star: Yuzvendra Chahal slammed by fans after smoking video emerges

The IPL’s all-time highest wicket-taker, Yuzvendra Chahal, has been slammed by fans after a video of the spinner emerged on social media. A man resembling Chahal was recorded smoking a cigarette before casually throwing it out on the road. 

Yuzvendra Chahal smoking fans
Yuzvendra Chahal has been criticized by fans over an alleged smoking video. (via X)

Only weeks ago, Chahal had appeared on a podcast with former RCB teammate AB de Villiers, disclosing that he had quit drinking to win the IPL with Punjab Kings. He was one of the franchise’s top performers last season, picking up 16 wickets in 14 matches at a decent average of 26.87. He helped PBKS make it to the final for the first time in over a decade, but the Shreyas Iyer-led team ultimately lost to RCB.

On the viral clip, fans exclaimed that Chahal is a celebrity with ‘zero’ civic sense, while many others urged the Punjab police to take action. Some fans made fun of the veteran spinner, noting that he does not have the decency to use an ashtray, available for cars. A few others, however, suggested that the spinner be left alone during his personal time, while also suggesting that other players also smoke. 

Some fans even linked the ‘smoking’ controversy to the veteran Indian bowler’s form, noting that the video emerged just before PBKS’ IPL match against SRH. They pointed to how Chahal went wicket-less throughout the game, while conceding 33 runs. 

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