Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya¡ªCricketers who faced 70% alimony, mental cruelty, and shocking betrayals
A rich man isn¡¯t guaranteed love, and a beautiful woman isn¡¯t promised happiness. These cricketers ruled the pitch but failed in marriage. Some lost childhood love, some paid crores in alimony, and others faced betrayal. Here¡¯s a look at their failed marriages
Love is a gamble. Just because someone is rich doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ll find true love, and just because someone is beautiful doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ll be loved forever. Cricket is a game of skill, but relationships? That¡¯s pure luck. While these cricketers smashed records on the field, their marriages couldn¡¯t survive the innings of life. Some faced mental cruelty, some were betrayed, and some ended up paying a massive chunk of their wealth to end their marriages.
From shocking betrayals to multi-crore settlements, here¡¯s a look at cricketers who were clean bowled in love.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma¡¯s courtroom drama over Rs 4.75 crore alimony
The latest cricketer to join the list of divorces is Yuzvendra Chahal. His marriage with choreographer Dhanashree Verma is now officially ending in court. Recently a viral video surfaced which captured both walking into the family court, avoiding cameras, as they move forward with their divorce proceedings.
Reports confirm that Chahal has agreed to pay Rs 4.75 crore as permanent alimony. Out of this, Rs 2.37 crore has already been transferred, but the delay in paying the remaining amount has led to compliance issues in court. While the two started their marriage journey with love and laughter, the end has been full of legal battles and financial settlements.
Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic¡¯s alleged 70% divorce settlement
Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic¡¯s love story was nothing short of a Bollywood script. They had a secret lockdown wedding, followed by a grand celebration in 2023, and welcomed their son, Agastya. However, 2024 saw the couple announcing their separation in a joint statement on social media.
While both maintained that the decision was mutual, rumours suggested otherwise. Reports surfaced claiming that Natasa was seeking a substantial portion of Hardik¡¯s assets¡ªallegedly up to 70%. Though neither confirmed the exact details, the speculation was enough to create a storm on social media. From being a power couple to parting ways, their story proved that even fairy-tale romances don¡¯t always have happy endings.
Shikhar Dhawan granted divorce after court found mental cruelty by wife
Shikhar Dhawan with his wife
Credit: Instagram
Shikhar Dhawan¡¯s marriage to Aesha Mukherjee seemed like a perfect match¡ªuntil it wasn¡¯t. The Indian opening batsman fell for the Melbourne-based kickboxer, who was already a divorcee and mother of two. Despite the unconventional start, they tied the knot in 2012 and welcomed a son, Zoravar.
However, after nearly a decade, cracks appeared in their marriage. In 2021, they officially separated, and Dhawan filed for divorce. The court granted him the divorce on the grounds of mental cruelty, acknowledging that his wife had caused him emotional distress. Though the exact details of what led to their split remain private, their relationship couldn't withstand the challenges of long-distance and personal differences. Dhawan continues to co-parent his son but has moved on from the marriage.
Dinesh Karthik¡¯s marriage ended after wife¡¯s alleged affair with Murali Vijay
Dinesh Karthik and Nikita Vanjara¡¯s marriage was built on childhood friendship. They had known each other for years and tied the knot in 2007. But their relationship took a shocking turn when reports emerged that Nikita was allegedly involved with Karthik¡¯s teammate, Murali Vijay.
The betrayal led to a bitter separation, and their divorce was finalized in 2012. Shortly after, Nikita married Murali Vijay. For Karthik, it was a painful chapter in his life, but he eventually found love again with squash champion Dipika Pallikal. The cricketer may have moved on, but his first marriage remains one of the most talked-about scandals in Indian cricket.
Shoaib Malik¡¯s divorce and third marriage that shocked fans
Shoaib Malik and Sanya Mirza
Credit: Instagram
Shoaib Malik¡¯s split from tennis star Sania Mirza became one of the biggest gossip topics of 2024. While neither publicly spoke about their divorce, Pakistani media reports suggested that Malik¡¯s extramarital affairs led to their separation.
The controversy deepened when Malik suddenly announced his third marriage to actress Sana Javed. What made it even more shocking was that none of his family members attended the wedding, and his sisters reportedly expressed their disappointment. Sania Mirza, on the other hand, gained primary custody of their son, Izhaan, and moved on with her life. Malik¡¯s decision to marry for the third time left fans wondering if he would ever settle down for good.
Vinod Kambli¡¯s struggles with alcoholism and domestic violence case
Vinod Kambli¡¯s marriage to Noella Lewis didn¡¯t last long due to personal differences, and his second marriage with Andrea Hewitt has been turbulent. While they remained together for 17 years, Andrea filed a police complaint against Kambli for domestic violence.
The former cricketer¡¯s battle with alcoholism has been a well-known struggle. He has been to rehab 14 times but continues to face challenges. Despite the domestic violence case, Andrea chose not to separate from Kambli, hoping he would recover. His recent hospitalization due to health issues once again put the spotlight on his troubled personal life.
While these cricketers gave their best performances on the field, their marriages told a different story. Whether it was an alleged 70% alimony, betrayal by a partner, or mental cruelty, their relationships proved that love isn¡¯t always a perfect match.
Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions¡ªyet!). For her, writing isn¡¯t just work; it¡¯s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
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