Cricketers’ Mental Health Challenges: Players who are speaking out on mental well-being challenges

Not only in India but worldwide, cricket is one of the most popular games to watch and enjoy. It’s also thought to be among the physically and psychologically hardest sports. Cricket players have long been outspoken about their physical health, but it’s common to ignore how playing the sport affects mental health. Since several well-known athletes have come forward to talk about their battles with mental health concerns, this pattern has drastically changed.

Millions of people love cricket, and many have deep emotional connections. It’s a sport that’s full of hopes and dreams. On the other hand, cricket players frequently suffer from mental breakdowns. In the media, few people express it, and many do not.

Many people view discussions about mental health as taboo, and even if they suffer, they do not disclose it. Nevertheless, few cricketers who have suffered from mental health issues have talked about it. Let us look at some of them.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has been considered one of the world’s finest players for over a decade. That being said, his road has not been easy. When Virat came back from a hiatus in 2022, he talked candidly about his difficulties with mental health. He claimed in an interview with Star Sports that he needed a break and that he had been working so hard to seem to be intense even though he was feeling depressed. He felt renewed after a month of rest and reflection. From then on, he has continued to perform at his best.

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes is one of the best all-rounders and the current captain of the England Test team. To put his mental health first, Stokes decided in July 2021 to take an indefinite sabbatical from cricket. He then disclosed that before ultimately choosing to stop playing the game, he had experienced several panic attacks. After six months, he was able to successfully rejoin the team. He continued to be on medication for anxiety after his return.

Jonathan Trott

At the height of his career, Jonathan Trott, one of England’s most talented batters, struggled with mental health problems. Due to extreme stress, Trott opted to withdraw from a significant international series in 2013. After that incident, he stopped playing cricket for 16 months. Due to his ongoing battle with anxiety condition, he attempted to rejoin the team in 2015 but finally decided to withdraw from international cricket.

Marcus Trescothick

Marcus Trescothick, whose career was cut short by mental exhaustion and despair, was England’s powerful opener. The former England opener is one of the high-profile names who chose to speak about his mental health. During the 2006 tour of India, Trescothick, then thirty-two, felt the need to return home. Trescothick revealed he was dealing with depression when he announced his retirement from the game later that year.

Sarah Taylor

Sarah Taylor decided to give up cricket because of her anxiety. She took many breaks during her profession, but eventually, when her worry began to consume her, she decided to resign. She was one of the best players and was crucial to the teams’ victories in the 50-over World Cup in 2017 and the T20 World Cup in 2009. She was considered the backbone of her team and perhaps the best-ever keeper-batter England has ever produced in Women’s Cricket.

Glenn Maxwell

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is well-known for his ability to hit for six runs. In October 2019, Maxwell announced his decision to step away from cricket due to mental health issues. Later on, he disclosed that, for the previous eighteen months, he had been suffering and trying to “fake it” until deciding to step away. He eventually received a diagnosis of moderate sadness and anxiety. Maxwell is currently competing for Australia in the White Ball format after overcoming his challenges.

Andrew Flintoff

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff, one of the biggest players to emerge from English cricket in recent years, struggled with mental health concerns, forcing him to end his international career in 2010. In the BBC documentary, Flintoff discussed his mental health issue. He had a period in his life when he didn’t even want to get out of bed. When England lost the 2006–2007 Ashes, the all-rounder for the English cricket team had one of his worst seasons. Following this setback, he progressively gave in to alcoholism and sadness.

Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar is a fast bowler who represented India in 84 matches between 2007 and 2012. Praveen revealed in January 2020 how his mental state had gotten worse to the point where he felt like taking his own life. But when Praveen saw a photo of his happy kids, he was able to collect himself. It was because of this, that he went to therapy. After that, he received a diagnosis of depression.

Ishan Kishan

Adding to this long list, the newest addition is the Indian emerging star wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan. He has been a regular part of the Indian team’s set-up for a while in White Ball cricket and even played a couple of matches in the ODI World Cup. Due to continuous competitive cricket around him, it took a toll on him and he decided to take a break from it and has been out of the squads for the Indian team ever since.