Prominent Indian athletes who separated or got divorced

Dubai: India’s badminton ace Saina Nehwal took to social media on Sunday to announce her separation from husband Parupalli Kashyap, a fellow top Indian shuttler. The couple, who tied the knot on December 14, 2018, have decided to part ways after nearly six years of marriage.

“Life takes us in different directions sometimes,” Saina wrote in her statement. “After much thought and consideration, Kashyap Parupalli and I have decided to part ways. We’re choosing peace, growth, and healing – for ourselves and each other. I’m grateful for the memories and wish nothing but the best moving forward. Thank you for understanding and respecting our privacy during this time.”

Over the years, several high-profile Indian athletes have faced similar turns in their personal lives. Here's a look at some notable splits:

Mary Kom and Onkholer (Onler) Kom

Legendary boxer Mary Kom recently addressed speculation surrounding her personal life. Confirming the rumours, she revealed that she and her husband Onkholer Kom are "no longer married," and that their divorce was finalised by mutual consent. The six-time world champion also dismissed rumours linking her romantically with others, including Hitesh Choudhary and another boxer's husband.

Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma

Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and choreographer Dhanashree Verma ended their marriage in March 2025. The couple, who wed in 2020, had reportedly been living apart for some time before finalising their divorce. As per their settlement, Chahal agreed to pay Dhanashree an alimony of Rs40.75 million. Chahal recently has triggered another rumour of him dating RJ Mahvash. The two have been seen together in public multiple times.

Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza’s high-profile marriage ended in divorce after years of media attention. Before marrying Mirza, Malik had a controversial legal dispute with his former wife Ayesha Siddiqui, which he resolved before his second marriage. Following his split with Mirza, Malik reportedly remarried Siddiqui.

Shikhar Dhawan and Ayesha Mukherjee

Shikhar Dhawan’s relationship with Ayesha Mukherjee, an Australian-based kickboxer and mother of two, began with a strong emotional connection that led to their marriage in 2012. Despite their son Zoravar being born during the marriage, the couple separated in 2021. In 2023, a Delhi court granted Dhawan a divorce, citing "mental cruelty" as a reason, with cultural differences and ongoing disagreements contributing to the split.

Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic

All-rounder Hardik Pandya and Serbian model-actress Natasa Stankovic ended their relationship in July 2024. The couple first got engaged in early 2020 and married during the Covid-19 lockdown. Their son, Agastya, was born on July 30, 2020. Despite hosting a grand wedding ceremony in Rajasthan on Valentine’s Day in 2023, irreconcilable differences led to their eventual separation.

Dinesh Karthik and Nikita Vanjara

Cricketer Dinesh Karthik’s first marriage ended amid personal turmoil. He wed his childhood friend Nikita Vanjara in 2007, but the marriage ended in 2012 after reports of her growing closeness with Karthik’s teammate, Murali Vijay. The speculation turned out to be true—Vanjara later married Vijay. Despite the setback, Karthik found happiness again with squash champion Dipika Pallikal, whom he married in 2015. The couple have twins.