Chahal Gives Up Alcohol and Eyes Redemption With Punjab Kings in IPL 2026
Speaking on AB de Villiers' YouTube show, the IPL's all-time leading wicket-taker said the decision came down to priorities. "I want to give 150 percent for my team," Chahal said, adding that he felt a responsibility to set an example for younger players in the Punjab Kings camp.
A season of playing through pain
Chahal's IPL 2025 was a story of gutting it out. He fractured a rib in the second match of the season and later broke a knuckle on his bowling hand after the game against Kolkata Knight Riders, just before the playoffs. Three fractures in total, and he kept playing. He finished with 16 wickets in 14 matches, but by his own admission, the damage had taken a toll. In the semi-final against Mumbai Indians and the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he could not bowl his normal leg-spin, unable to grip or rip the ball properly. Punjab Kings lost that final, and Chahal has carried the frustration since.
221 wickets and still hungry
The numbers tell a story of longevity that few Indian spinners can match. Across 174 IPL matches since his debut in 2013, Chahal has taken 221 wickets at an average of 22.77, a record that puts him clear at the top of the tournament's all-time bowling charts. He won the Purple Cap in 2022 with 27 wickets for Rajasthan Royals and has been among the most feared spinners in T20 franchise cricket for the best part of a decade.
Yet for all the wickets, an IPL winner's medal has always slipped away. He reached the final with Rajasthan Royals in 2022 and again with Punjab Kings in 2025. Both times he finished on the losing side.
Why now?
At 35, time is not on Chahal's side. He has not played for India since August 2023, and while a national recall looks unlikely, the IPL remains his stage. Punjab Kings spent 18 crore on him at the mega auction ahead of IPL 2025, and they will expect a return on that investment. The franchise came agonisingly close to their first title last season. Chahal wants to be the one who drags them over the line this time.
Giving up alcohol is one piece of the puzzle. He spoke about wanting to be more active, more disciplined in his recovery, and sharper physically during the long grind of a two-month tournament. For a wrist spinner who relies on revolutions and precision, finger strength and body condition matter more than most positions on the field.
The season starts in nine days
IPL 2026 kicks off on March 28, with Punjab Kings beginning their campaign on March 31 against Gujarat Titans. Chahal will walk into a squad that also includes Lockie Ferguson, though the New Zealand quick will miss the opening matches after becoming a father. Shreyas Iyer captains the side, and expectations in the PBKS camp are as high as they have been in years.
Whether the lifestyle change translates to wickets remains to be seen when the season gets going. But Chahal has always been a competitor, and if the hunger in his voice on that podcast is anything to go by, he is not done yet.
