How They Met Their Soulmates
Cricket. It’s a sport that stirs passions, unites nations, and apparently, kindles love! Beyond the roar of the crowd and the thrill of a winning catch, some of our favorite cricketer players have had some genuinely amazing love stories end happily ever after.
10 Romantic Innings of Cricket’s Greatest Stars
Virat Kohli & Anushka Sharma
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s romance started during an advertisement shoot, sparking a quiet but profound connection. They kept their relationship away from the media spotlight, first being seen together in 2014 during an ISL game. In 2017, they announced their love to the world with a beautiful wedding, sharing their joy through social media. Their love story is a beautiful blend of privacy, respect, and deep affection.
MS Dhoni & Sakshi Singh Rawat
There’s a little coincidence in the narrative of this pair. Their paths only really intersect, despite going to the same school, years after they met in a hotel in Kolkata. A casual encounter by Dhoni’s management initiated a relationship, which led to their wedding in 2010. It just goes to show how love can find you in the most unexpected places, like a hotel lobby!
Rohit Sharma & Ritika Sajdeh
Rohit Sharma and sports manager Ritika’s love story began with a chance meeting at an advertisement shoot. Though Yuvraj Singh, Ritika’s rakhi brother (a tie similar to a sibling bond), playfully warned Rohit away, fate had other plans. As they interacted more, a professional bond blossomed into a beautiful friendship. Their love grew deeper over time, and after a six-year courtship, they tied the knot in 2015.
Sachin Tendulkar & Anjali Mehta
Sachin Tendulkar and Anjali Mehta met by chance at the Mumbai airport in 1990. Anjali, a doctor, was there to pick up her mother, while Sachin was returning from his first international cricket tour. Their encounter was brief but impactful. Despite their different worlds, they fell in love and began dating. Anjali supported Sachin throughout his cricket career, often being his pillar of strength. They married in 1995 and have two children, Sara and Arjun.
KL Rahul & Athiya Shetty
KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty met through a mutual friend in 2019. Their relationship took off quickly, with the two spending New Year together the same year. By 2020, they had made their romance official with heartfelt birthday wishes on social media. Frequently seen together on vacations and at movie screenings, their bond deepened over time, leading in their marriage in 2023.
Hardik Pandya & Natasa Stankovic
Hardik Pandya met Serbian actress-model Natasa Stankovic at a Mumbai nightclub in 2018. News of their connection emerged when Natasa posted a birthday wish for Hardik on social media. After two years of dating, Hardik popped the question on a yacht during a New Year’s Eve celebration. Their surprise wedding in May 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown sent shockwaves through the cricket world. They welcomed their son Agastya later that year.
Yuvraj Singh & Hazel Keech
Yuvraj Singh, an Indian cricketer, was smitten at a friend’s party in 2011. Across the floor, he noticed Hazel Keech, a British actress, and her smile grabbed him. Though his first attempts to pursue her with coffee dates were gently turned down, fate interfered. Years later, they crossed paths again, and this time, a spark was lit. Their love story grew, despite cultural divides, and ended in a stunning wedding in 2016.
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi & Sharmila Tagore
In mid-1960s India, cricket star Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, known as Tiger, met Bollywood beauty Sharmila Tagore at a party. Despite their different worlds, they connected. Tiger’s humor, especially when no one else understood his British jokes, charmed Sharmila. Their love blossomed through conversations, overcoming societal expectations. After a few years of courtship, they married in 1968, a royal-meets-reality wedding that stole hearts.
Zaheer Khan & Sagarika Ghatgee
Cricketer Zaheer Khan and Chak De! India actress Sagarika Ghatge’s love story began through mutual friends. There’s no exact date, but rumors swirled after they were spotted together at a friend’s wedding. Their connection grew from friendship, and they eventually started dating. They kept their relationship private for a while, but their love blossomed and led to a happy marriage. Today, they enjoy a life together.
Jasprit Singh Bumrah & Sanajana Ganesan
Strike bowler Bumrah and sports presenter Sanjana’s love story began with a misunderstanding. Their initial interview sparked a friendship, but both mistook the other for arrogant. A reconnection during the 2019 World Cup allowed them to see each other differently. After two years of dating, they married in a private ceremony, keeping their relationship under wraps until the big day.
Yuzvendra Chahal & Dhanashree Verma
Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal met Dhanashree Verma, a choreographer and YouTuber, during a dance class in 2020. Chahal had enrolled in her online dance sessions during the COVID-19 lockdown. Their shared interests and frequent interactions during the classes led to a deeper connection. The couple soon began dating and announced their engagement in August 2020. They got married in a private ceremony in December 2020. Since then, Chahal and Dhanashree have been enjoying their married life and often share glimpses of their journey together on social media.
While these cricketers reign supreme on the pitch, the stories shared here reveal a different kind of victory: love. Their partners, met through chance encounters, shared passions, or even a wrong impression, stand by their sides as teammates in life. These women are the unseen anchors, the confidantes, the ones who make the winning plays off the field.
