Indian cricketers have often faced intense public attention over their personal lives, particularly when relationships have ended in broken engagements or divorces. Several well-known players have gone through such situations while continuing to manage the demands of international and franchise cricket.
From Prithvi Shaw and Akriti Agarwal calling off their engagement to involving Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal, these relationships have attracted considerable media coverage. Here is a look at six Indian cricketers whose engagements or marriages ended after receiving significant public attention.
6 Indian Cricketers With Broken Engagements or Marriages
Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw officially announced his engagement to social media influencer and actress Akriti Agarwal on March 8, 2026. Shaw shared romantic pictures from his proposal and used a cricket reference in his caption.
However, the relationship ended in September 2026, six months after their engagement. Agarwal confirmed that they had mutually decided to part ways and asked the public to avoid spreading speculation about their relationship.
In a statement on Instagram, Agarwal said their different goals, changing circumstances, and individual responsibilities made it difficult to continue their relationship.
“With a heavy heart, I would like to share that my fiancé and I have decided to part ways due to different goals and circumstances for our future. As much as we love and care for each other, we've come to accept that our paths are not meant to be together.”
Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri divorced Ritu Singh in 2012 after 22 years of marriage. The couple married in March 1990 and have a daughter, Alekha Shastri. Their separation received significant media attention at the time.
Before marrying Ritu, Shastri was linked to Bollywood actress Amrita Singh. The two reportedly met during a magazine photoshoot in November 1986 and later became engaged. However, their relationship eventually ended.
Reports at the time suggested that their different views about Amrita’s acting career contributed to the split. Shastri had reportedly expressed a preference for a partner who would focus on family life, while Amrita continued to pursue her Bollywood career.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya and Serbian actress Natasa Stankovic began dating in 2018. Pandya proposed to Natasa on a yacht in Dubai on January 1, 2020. The couple had an intimate wedding in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and later welcomed their son, Agastya.
The couple renewed their vows in a grand ceremony in Udaipur in February 2023. However, speculation about their marriage increased in May 2024 after Natasa removed the Pandya surname from her Instagram profile. Her absence from India’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign also attracted attention.
Pandya and Natasa confirmed their separation in July 2024 through a joint statement. They said they had mutually decided to end their four-year marriage while continuing to focus on raising their son together.
“After 4 years of being together, Natasa and I have mutually decided to part ways. We tried our best together and gave it our all, and we believe this is in the best interest for the both of us. This was a tough decision for us to make, given the joy, mutual respect and companionship we enjoyed together and as we grew a family.”
Following the separation, Natasa moved to Serbia with Agastya. The former couple also confirmed that they would continue to co-parent their son and remain committed to his well-being.
Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik married his childhood friend Nikita Vanjara in 2007, when he was emerging as a young India cricketer. The marriage ended in 2012 after reports linked Nikita with Karthik’s Tamil Nadu teammate and close friend Murali Vijay.
Karthik reportedly discovered the relationship while Nikita was pregnant. He chose to end the marriage privately and avoided making public accusations. Nikita later married Murali Vijay.
Karthik met international squash champion Dipika Pallikal in 2013 during fitness sessions under the same trainer in Chennai. His relationship with Pallikal developed over time, and he proposed to her in London.
The couple married in Chennai in August 2015 through two ceremonies. They first had a Christian wedding on August 18, followed by a traditional Telugu Hindu ceremony on August 20.
Pallikal supported Karthik during his career resurgence, which included his memorable performances in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy and a successful stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Karthik retired from international cricket in 2024.
The couple welcomed twin sons, Kabir and Zian, in 2021. They later announced the birth of their daughter, Raaha Pallikal Karthik, on March 19, 2026.
Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan married Melbourne-based kickboxer Aesha Mukerji on October 30, 2012. Dhawan also adopted Aesha’s two daughters from her previous marriage. The couple welcomed their son, Zoravar, in December 2013.
Their relationship came under strain several years later. Aesha announced in 2021 that they were going through a divorce. In October 2023, the Delhi Family Court granted Dhawan a divorce after accepting his unchallenged allegations of mental cruelty.
The court’s findings covered disputes over property, financial arrangements and Dhawan’s access to his son. Dhawan also alleged that Aesha had sent defamatory messages to people connected with Indian cricket. These matters formed part of the court proceedings.
The legal dispute continued after the divorce. In February 2026, the Delhi Family Court ordered Aesha to refund around ₹5.72 crore to Dhawan from the sale of an Australian asset. Dhawan also retained visitation rights, allowing him to spend unsupervised time with Zoravar during school holidays in India and Australia.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal and choreographer Dhanashree Verma met during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Chahal initially contacted Dhanashree for online dance lessons, and their relationship developed quickly. They had a roka ceremony in August before marrying on December 22, 2020.
According to their court filings, the couple separated in June 2022 and lived apart for around 18 months before beginning formal divorce proceedings.
The couple eventually filed for divorce by mutual consent. The Bandra Family Court finalized their divorce on March 20, 2025, and Chahal agreed to an alimony settlement of ₹4.75 crore.
Chahal later spoke about the impact of the separation and the online speculation surrounding their relationship. He said the period affected him significantly and that he needed time away from cricket. By 2026, both Chahal and Dhanashree had focused on their respective professional careers.
