Recent rumors surrounding Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his choreographer wife Dhanashree Verma indicate they may be heading for divorce. A source close to the couple expressed, "The divorce is inevitable, and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes official." While both parties have yet to confirm the news, their recent social media activity, including unfollowing each other on Instagram, fuels speculation.
Chahal's potential separation places him alongside numerous Indian cricketers who have faced similar marital turmoil. One notable case is Shikhar Dhawan and his ex-wife Ayesha Mukherjee, who divorced after more than ten years of marriage. Dhawan had publicly accused Mukherjee of mental cruelty and preventing him from seeing their son. Following these revelations, new rumors surfaced, indicating Dhawan is now dating Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi.
Another high-profile split was between Dinesh Karthik and Nikita Vanjara. The pair, childhood friends who married in 2007, had their relationship rocky due to infidelity. Karthik discovered Vanjara's affair with his teammate Murali Vijay, leading to their divorce five years later. Despite the pain, Karthik moved forward, finding love once again with squash player Dipika Pallikal, with whom he shares twin boys, Kabir and Zian.
Among recent couples, Hardik Pandya and Nataša Stanković's relationship garnered attention after they announced their engagement on January 1, 2020, followed by marriage just months later. Nevertheless, they separated by July 2024, citing their mutual decision for personal well-being. They continue to co-parent their son, Agastya, with Stanković living primarily in Serbia.
Backtracking through history, Mohammad Azharuddin's marital life has long been the subject of scrutiny. Initially married to Naureen, he divorced her to marry actress Sangeeta Bijlani. Their marriage was fraught with alleged affairs, leading Bijlani to file for divorce, which became official in 2010. Following these events, Azharuddin married Shannon Marie Talwar, bringing his tumultuous personal life back under the media's spotlight.
Cricketer Vinod Kambli waded through similar waters as his relationship with Noella Lewis ended after accusations of infidelity and drinking habits came to light. After their 2005 divorce, Kambli attempted to rebuild with model Andrea Hewitt. Yet, this relationship also faced challenges, with Hewitt filing domestic abuse complaints against Kambli, intensifying their strife.
Former coach Ravi Shastri's marriage to Ritu Singh ended after 22 years, but the reasons behind their separation remain privately guarded. Conversely, Javagal Srinath and Jyothsna's amicable separation illustrated how some couples could part ways respectfully after significant time together.
Adding to this narrative of cricketers’ complicated love lives is Yograj Singh, the father of renowned cricketer Yuvraj Singh. His first marriage to Shabnam Kaur ended over conflicting career aspirations, but he eventually found happiness again, marrying Satbir Kaur, leading to another family.
Lastly, the tumultuous relationship between Mohammad Shami and his wife Hasin Jahan culminated with legal battles and accusations of domestic abuse, rounding out the list of cricketers whose marriages faced intense scrutiny.
This rollercoaster of relationships provides insight not only on the lives of cricketers but also on the high-profile nature of their careers. The pressures stemming from public scrutiny can take their toll, illuminating the emotional challenges these sports figures face beyond the cricket pitch.