Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who married glamorous TV presenter Sanjana Ganesan at a private ceremony in Goa on Monday, became the latest cricketer with a celebrity spouse.
The Late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore were the first power couple, with a cricketer tying the knot with a Bollywood star. Their modern-day parallel are Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who top the charts as far as popularity is concerned.
Following are some of contemporary Indian cricket’s other power couples:
Virat Kohli & Anushka Sharma
The two met for the first time during the shooting of a TV commercial for a shampoo brand – way back in 2013. The relationship kicked off based on mutual admiration and respect for one another — while Anushka is a successful actress, entrepreneur and a producer, Virat is among the world’s best cricketers and Indian sport’s most valuable brand. Before long, it turned into love. Anushka started joining Virat on cricket tours and watching IPL matches, though initially it was totally hush-hush. Once they were convinced about their commitment to each other, they made it public. In one of the most high-profile and dream weddings, ‘Virushka’, as they were named, got in Tuscany, Italy, on December 11, 2017, and their wedding announcement took the internet by the storm. Two months ago, Anushka gave birth to their first child – daughter Vamika.
Jasprit Bumrah & Sanjana Ganesan
When Jasprit Bumrah requested the BCCI to be released from the India squad ahead of the final Test against England due to ‘personal reasons’, fans were left wondering what could be more important than playing for the country. Soon, rumours started circulating that the ace of pace would be getting engaged to Sanjana Ganesan. On Monday, Bumrah himself confirmed news of his marriage to the popular television sports presenter by sharing pictures of their intimate Punjabi wedding in Goa. Sanjana was a Miss India finalist in 2014 and participated in MTV show Splitsvilla, before taking up a career as a sports anchor. She hosts sports shows for Star Sports and Kolkata Knight Riders’ weekly show ‘Knights Club’. Bumrah, one of the world leading fast bowlers in the world an important member of the Indian team in all three formats, reportedly met her during the IPL.
Harbhajan Singh & Geeta Basra
One of Indian cricket’s most eligible bachelors for a long time, the ‘Turbanator’ kept his relationship status with actress Geeta Basra a mystery despite the media gossiping about them. The pair finally made it official and got married on October 29, 2015 in a lavish wedding ceremony followed by a grand reception on November. While Harbhajan took over 400 wickets in Test cricket and did well in ODIs too, England-born model-turned-actress Geeta acted in Bollywood movies like Dil Diya Hai and the box-office hit The Train, both starring Emraan Hashmi. Harbhajan and Geeta, who have a daughter, are expecting their second child.
Yuvraj Singh & Hazel Keech
As a flamboyant left-handed batsman and a dashing young man, Yuvraj Singh floored many damsels and got into relationships with a handful of them, too. His career had to be put on a pause as he was diagnosed with lung cancer – a rare disorder known as Mediastinal Seminoma. He got treated in the US and ultimately recovered before meeting Bollywood actress Hazel Keech. The lady who won hearts with her item song ‘Aa Ante Amalapuram’ tied the knot with the ace cricketer at a gurudwara on November 30, 2016
Zaheer Khan & Sagarika Ghatge
Another dashing eligible Team India cricketer who made life for opposing batsmen miserable with his left-arm pace and swing, Zaheer was also linked to some ladies of tinsel town before meeting his match in Sagarika Ghatge. A model, Sagarika came into limelight with the superhit 2007 film Chak De! India. She thereafter acted in half a dozen more films. She also featured in TV game show Khatron Ke Khiladi and, more recently, in web series Boss: Baap of Special Services. The duo got engaged in a low-key affair on May 23, 2017, and got hitched in a court marriage on November 23, 2017. Their low-key wedding was in keeping with Sagarika’s bridal trend of ‘less is more’.
Dinesh Karthik & Dipika Pallikal
Having been involved in a marriage which didn’t work, former India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik found love again in the pretty Dipika Pallikal. One of India’s top professional squash players over the last decade and the first from the country to break into the top 10 of world rankings, the glamorous Deepika and Dinesh make for a stylish couple. Having been in and out of the Indian team mainly because his career coincided with that of MS Dhoni, Dinesh still played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 32 T20 Internationals, and is still trying to make another India comeback. Deepika and Dinesh got engaged in November 2013 after a two-year relationship, and got married in August 2015.
Sheetal Goutham & Robin Uthappa
Having made his India debut at the age of 20, Robin Uthappa made an immediate impact with his hard-hitting batsmanship. The Karnataka wicketkeeper-batsman, though, lost his place in the ODI team within two years because of a slump in form. That was when he met tennis player Sheetal Gowtham, and sparks flew almost immediately. After a long courtship, lasting eight years, Robin proposed to Sheetal on her 30th birthday, and the duo tied the knot in March 2016. While Robin continues to play first-class cricket and IPL, Sheetal has given up tennis but continues to be a fitness freak. The stylish couple are parents to a three-year-old daughter.
Also Read: Cricketer Jaspreet Bumrah & TV Presenter Sanjana Ganesan Get Married
