Yuzvendra Chahal reveals drunk Australian player nearly killed him

Yuzvendra Chahal reveals drunk Australian player nearly killed him

Yuzvendra Chahal Revisits Terrifying IPL Hotel Balcony Incident

India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has shared fresh details about a frightening episode from the 2013 Indian Premier League, recalling how an intoxicated Australian cricketer once held him over a hotel balcony. Chahal said the incident took place during his early days in the tournament and left him fearing for his life.

Speaking on former India opener Aakash Chopra’s podcast, Chahal clarified that the player involved was neither Andrew Symonds nor James Franklin, two names previously linked to the story. He did not identify the cricketer, describing him instead as a strong, heavily intoxicated Australian who had been at a party hosted by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

The account adds new detail to an incident Chahal first discussed publicly in 2022. At the time, he was representing Mumbai Indians and attended the gathering in Bengaluru. What began as an apparently playful interaction, he said, quickly became a dangerous situation.

What happened at the 2013 IPL party?

Chahal recalled that the Australian player called him over and lifted him into the air. Initially, the young spinner assumed it was a joke. But the player then moved him over the edge of a hotel balcony, leaving Chahal hanging above the ground and holding on to the man’s neck.

“At first, I thought he was joking, but then he hung me over the balcony, and I was just holding on to his neck,” Chahal said, describing the moment on Chopra’s podcast. He estimated that the room was on the 15th or 16th floor, making the episode especially perilous.

People inside the room were stunned, Chahal recalled. Once they understood the danger, several rushed in and pulled him back to safety. The player, he said, was laughing, but Chahal experienced the moment very differently.

“I was terrified,” he said, adding that being rescued felt like a “second birth.” His description underscores how quickly an act that may have been treated as a drunken prank could have resulted in a fatal fall.

Why Chahal did not pursue a formal complaint

Chahal also reflected on why he did not take the matter further at the time. He was young, unfamiliar with how to make a formal complaint, and focused on establishing himself as a professional cricketer. He ultimately chose to move on rather than pursue the incident through official channels.

His account is a reminder of the responsibility that comes with team and tournament environments, particularly at social events where alcohol may be involved. Professional sport depends on trust and camaraderie, but those qualities do not lessen the need for personal safety, clear boundaries and accountability. A situation described as a joke by one person can be frightening—or life-threatening—for someone else.

Chahal’s remarks also help correct speculation surrounding the story. By explicitly ruling out Symonds and Franklin, he has clarified that neither of the two former Australian players named in past discussion was involved. He has not disclosed the identity of the person he described.

From early IPL days to a record-breaking career

The balcony incident occurred during Chahal’s first IPL season. He began his league career with Mumbai Indians in 2013 before becoming a central figure for RCB, where he spent eight seasons. His leg-spin, control and ability to take wickets in the middle overs helped make him one of the competition’s most influential bowlers.

Chahal is the IPL’s leading wicket-taker, with 233 wickets in 188 matches, according to the figures cited in the original report. He now represents Punjab Kings. In the 2026 season, he played 14 matches and claimed 12 wickets, continuing a career that has spanned several franchises and changing roles within the tournament.

His success has been built on a style of bowling that combines flight, variations in pace and sharp turn. Leg-spinners often operate in high-pressure phases, when batters are looking to accelerate, and Chahal has repeatedly shown an ability to challenge them with both attacking deliveries and changes of trajectory. Those qualities helped him become a regular in India’s limited-overs teams.

Chahal’s international record and comeback hopes

Chahal has not appeared for India since a T20 International against the West Indies in 2023. Although he has been out of favour with national selectors in recent years, he has continued to play professionally and remains hopeful of earning another opportunity. His international record includes 121 wickets in 72 One-Day Internationals, at an average of 27.13 and an economy rate of 5.26.

In T20 Internationals, he has taken 96 wickets in 80 matches, with an average of 25.09 and an economy rate of 8.19. He has retired from first-class cricket but remains active in the shorter formats, where his experience and wicket-taking record continue to make him a notable player.

Any prediction about a possible India return would depend on factors including form, fitness, team balance and the selectors’ plans. Chahal’s continued presence in the IPL gives him a platform to demonstrate his value, but competition for places in India’s spin attack remains intense. His record, however, ensures that his performances will continue to attract attention.

A startling memory from a long cricket journey

Chahal’s latest recollection offers a sobering glimpse into the risks that can exist away from the pitch. The incident has remained with him for years, even as his career progressed from a young IPL newcomer to one of the tournament’s most successful bowlers.

By speaking about it again, Chahal has provided more context about what happened while correcting mistaken assumptions about who was involved. His story is both a deeply personal memory and a reminder that safety must come before entertainment—especially when alcohol, power imbalances or risky behaviour are part of the setting.

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