From Virat Kohli, Stokes to Tendulkar, cricketers who struggled with mental health-anxiety, Thorpe gave up his life

New Delhi. Cricketer Graham Thorpe, who was suffering from depression, committed suicide last week. Since then, mental health is being discussed again in the world of sports. However, this is a topic which is never discussed openly. That too when legendary and successful cricketers like Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar have also struggled with anxiety or mental health. Many cricketers like Glenn Maxwell have taken a break due to mental health.

Graham Thorpe, who played 100 Test matches for England, died on 5 August. Initially, the news came that it was a natural death. Then Graham Thorpe’s wife and daughters revealed in an interview to ‘The Times’ that it was not a natural death but a suicide. Since then, there is a talk in the cricket world that mental health needs to be taken seriously. Recently, some very successful cricketers have also struggled with this.

Ben Stokes used to get panic attacks
England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has struggled with mental health. Due to this, he also took a six-month break in 2021. Ben Stokes said that he has also been having panic attacks. Stokes still takes medicines for anxiety.

Glenn Maxwell took a break in 2019
Australia’s all-rounder Glenn Maxwell also took a break from cricket in 2019. After this, the then coach Justin Langer helped and encouraged him. Maxwell performed well in the Big Bash League after returning.

Virat Kohli

When Kohli wanted to move away from cricket
Virat Kohli was not able to score runs as expected in 2014. But he did not tell this then. Virat Kohli told in a press conference in 2019, ‘I was not feeling mentally healthy. I wanted to move away from cricket in those days.’ However, he did not do so and everything became fine later.

Sachin Tendulkar could not sleep
You may find it hard to believe but Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored a century of centuries, has also struggled with anxiety. Sachin has told that there was a time for 10-12 years when he could not sleep the night before the match. Later he accepted it as a part of his preparation. After this, I learned to keep myself busy in other things to divert my attention.

Sachin Tendulkar

Trott’s struggle at the peak of his career
England’s Jonathan Trott had retired from cricket due to mental health. That too, when he was at the peak of his career. Jonathan Trott once left India’s tour midway and returned to England. While returning, he had attributed the reason for this to India’s weather and food. Later he accepted that he was going through depression.

Tags: Ben Stokes, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli