Rohika, Virushka and More: Who are the Biggest Power Couples in Cricket?

Cricket is the second most sought after sport on Earth, after football, and has had its fair share of legends, heroes and demigods. As a result, the success and fortunes of cricketing teams and the doting cricketers are closely followed by the vast cricket-crazy public at every level. 

With the advent of social media, focus is not just on cricketers’ theatrics on the field, but also off it. A key part of this is the impact of the sweet gentlewomen behind the gentlemen’s game. Cricketers and their WAGs are often subject to scrutiny, with the fortunes of cricketers linked a lot (sometimes unfairly) to the influence of their better halves. 

A few couples have caught the imagination of the cricketing public thanks to their wonderful chemistry as well as their combined success in life. It’s also key to realize how pivotal a role the duo play in each other’s success for which these couples are an example. Today, we are looking at some of the most successful partnerships that cricketers have off the field as we count down the power couples in cricket. 

Yuzvendra Chahal – Dhanashree Verma 

We start with Yuzvendra Chahal who is fast establishing himself as one of India’s premier spinners. Chahal has been a revelation for India and also in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and now the Rajasthan Royals. An IPL title winner in 2013 with the Mumbai Indians, Chahal has since made two other finals, with one apiece for the two aforementioned franchises. 

He is also the highest wicket taker in the IPL’s history with 205 scalps and for India in T20 internationals with 96 wickets. Chahal is also a master on the chess board having represented India in the World Junior Chess Championships. As a result, the wily leggie is a master of many talents and found a partner in the same vein when he tied the knot with Dhanashree Verma, a dentist and also a YouTuber and choreographer, in 2020. 

The duo are often seen together in witty reels and posts on social media and aren’t averse to a little leg pulling off each other showcasing the funny, innate dynamic between the two. 

KL Rahul – Athiya Shetty

With a career spanning over a decade for India, KL Rahul has turned himself into one of the most dependable resources for Indian cricket across all formats. The stylish right-hander is a symbol of class and elegance and has regularly been a source of runs for India and in the IPL. 

Despite a few injuries in his career, Rahul has featured nearly 200 times, scoring nearly 8,000 runs with 17 centuries for India across all formats . His numbers are even better in the IPL with more than 4,500 runs, four centuries and playoff appearances with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Lucknow Super Giants (who he captains). 

Off-the-field, his suave looks, well-gelled hair and a genial personality underneath makes him a much vaunted social figure. It’s also what endeared him to actress Athiya Shetty, the daughter of popular actor Suniel Shetty. The two confirmed their union in 2023, particularly at a time when Rahul’s form and fitness was put under scrutiny. Ever since his marriage, the keeper-batsman has come back strongly, dazzling for India in their Asia Cup campaign and then playing a key role in India’s run to the final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. He has also been integral to the fortunes of the LSG franchise, leading them to multiple playoffs and being their highest run-scorer in two of their three years in existence. 

Rohit Sharma – Ritika Sajdeh

We now have the Rohika couple, the name christened to the union of Rohit Sharma and his longterm sweetheart Ritika Sajdeh, who he married in 2015. The duo also have a daughter, Samaira, who was born in 2018. 

There’s not much left to be said of Rohit’s feats on a cricket field. The destructive opener has performed consummately both as a batsman and as a captain throughout his career. Be it in international cricket or the IPL, the Hitman has stepped up with the bat and as a captain while leading India across all three formats. A key part of his success is his relaxed nature that also comes from his doting wife and kid being by his side. The cute duo are often seen in advertisements where Rohit showcases his funny, ignorant side for his wife to deal with. On the field, Rohit’s better half is often seen on the edge of her seat hoping to bring nothing but luck for the Hitman. 

Jasprit Bumrah – Sanjana Ganesan 

In 2013, Jasprit Bumrah exploded from fringe beginnings to capture the imagination of the entire cricket fraternity with his unusual action and his incredible accuracy. And since then, the Gujarat-born pacer has become arguably the best bowler in the world across all formats with his nippy pace and the ability to bowl yorkers at will often catching batsmen off guard. Bumrah has been inextricable to the fortunes of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and more importantly for the Indian team. 

And the pacer has been winning off the pitch as well, tying the knot with longterm partner Sanjana Ganesan in 2021. Sanjana, a model and a presenter, presenting pre-match, mid-match and post-match analysis shows with Star Sports and other major sports media outlets. In 2023, the couple welcomed a baby boy, named Angad. 

Interestingly, the two met for the first time in 2013 when Bumrah burst onto the scene and Sanjana was there to interview the pacer on his emergence. Cut to 11 years later and the duo were at it again when Sanjana interviewed Bumrah after his Man of the Match performance against rivals Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, marking a beautiful and proud exchange between the two, and a few laughs as well. Considering Bumrah’s inextricable presence for his teams and Sanjana’s growing stature as a sports presenter, expect them to grow further and get involved in many more lovely exchanges in the future. 

Dinesh Karthik – Deepika Pallikal 

Next up is the combo of Deepika Pallikal and Dinesh Karthik. DK has created a great cult of fans in his final years in the game thanks to his resilience, jovial nature and his ability to finish games and resurrect an innings from anywhere. The wicketkeeper batsman has enjoyed an illustrious 20-year- career, making his debut for India at the ripe young age of 19. The Chennai man was also a part of India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign in 2007 and the Champions Trophy in 2013. 

Even in an era dominated by MS Dhoni, DK has featured in more than 150 games across all formats for India. Especially in the latter part of his career, DK’s innovation and ability to manufacture shots from nowhere captured the imagination of the cricketing public. Not to forget his onslaught in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy final that will live long in the memory of Indian cricket fans. 

Now having hung up his boots, DK has stepped into the commentary box with aplomb, with his assessment of the game and light-hearted commentary winning the hearts of his peers. But there was a time when Karthik dealt with a few years in the wilderness with off-field issues hampering his love for the game, which nearly resulted in Karthik bidding adieu to the gentleman’s game. A key part of the 38-year-old’s turnaround from a hyperactive young man who then turned into a shell of his former self to now a measured and astute wicketkeeper-bat and man was his marriage to Deepika Pallikal in 2015.

Pallikal herself is no less a champion, putting India on the world map in squash. The 32-year-old has lifted 11 World Squash Open Tour titles and also won many more medals and honours in major sporting events. 

DIPIKA PALLIKAL: A LEGENDARY CAREER 

For her efforts, Deepika was also awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour of India in 2014. 

Off-the-pitch, DK and Deepika are often featured in advertisements for brands such as BeepKart and Asian Paints. All-in-all, their achievements on field and their camaraderie off it makes the two an absolute treat to witness together. 

Marizanne Kapp – Dane van Niekerk 

Next, let’s move on to the South African power combo of Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk. The Protea couple exchanged rings in July 2018 having played together since 2009 when they made their respective debuts in that year’s Women’s World Cup. Together, Kapp and Niekerk featured in more than 100 ODIs and T20Is respectively and were a critical part of South Africa’s ascendance in women’s international cricket leading up to Dane’s retirement in 2023. While van Niekerk was the first South African woman to take a hat-trick in international cricket, Kapp became the first South African woman to take a hat-trick in a T20I match. Talk about couple matching! 

Although they were unable to lift any major silverware for their country, the Kapp-van Niekerk partnership has tasted success everywhere in franchise cricket. 

MAJOR TROPHIES LIFTED BY THE KAPP-NIEKERK DUO

Along with their success, Kapp is also a two-time consecutive finalist with the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League, while van Niekerk featured for the RCB women’s franchise in 2023. 

The duo have also tasted success together in The Hundred for the Oval Invincibles lifting back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. Kapp and Niekerk also played for the Surrey Stars where they won the 2018 edition of Kia’s Women’s Super League, the premier women’s T20 competition in England. With Kapp going strong for club and country and van Niekerk in franchise cricket, expect the duo to have more medals adorned over their mantelpiece. 

Nat Sciver-Brunt – Katherine Sciver-Brunt 

We have an English couple in the mix now with the Sciver-Brunts in consideration. Although the two announced their engagement in 2019, they got officially together in 2022 due to the COVID pandemic. 

Katherine, who made her debut way back in 2004-05, was part of the England Women’s team that won the 2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cup. She then joined hands with Nat (debuted in 2013) to win England a second World Cup, this time at home in 2017, where they overcame India in a tense final. 

For her efforts, she was named the ECB Cricketer of the Year thrice (2006, 2010 and 2013). With 170 ODI wickets, Katherine is her nation’s highest wicket taker in the one-day format and was also their highest wicket-taker in T20Is (114) until she was overtaken recently by Sophie Ecclestone. 

Nat has built a glittering career in franchise cricket along with her exploits on the international stage. With more than 6,000 runs and 150 wickets in 200 games for England, Nat stands out as a key cog for her nation. In franchise cricket, she led the Mumbai Indians’ women’s team to the inaugural WPL title and captained the Surrey Stars to the Kia Women’s Super League title in 2018, where she played alongside the aforementioned duo of Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk. 

Nat was also conferred the Professional Cricketers Association’s Women’s Player of the Year Award in 2017 and 2022 and was voted one of Wisden’s Top Five Cricketers in 2018 along with her teammates Heather Knight and Anya Shrubsole. 

While Katherine called time on a glittering career in 2023, Nat, at 31, is still going strong with her all-round exploits making her an indispensable part for any team that she features for. 

Virat Kohli – Anushka Sharma 

There is no person that captures the global imagination of cricket like Virat Kohli. The swashbuckling right-hander has built a career setting and breaking records and creating stirring narratives with a bat in hand. Kohli’s aggression, intent and energy builds the frenzy wherever he goes and has led to the 35-year-old becoming the face of cricket across the globe. 

A key part of his fascination among the cricket-crazy Indian public was also his marriage to Bollywood actress and producer Anushka Sharma. The duo tied the knot in 2016 after a few years of courtship and have since given birth to a daughter Vamika, in January 2021 and a son, Akaay in February 2024. 

Kohli and Anushka (or Virushka as they are affectionately termed) are also key partners in each other’s entrepreneurial initiatives. But the couple are also known for their funny antics as made evident by Anushka who often pulls off Kohli’s on-field impersonations like a virtuoso, leaving the Delhi man in splits. 

The actress-producer runs her own company, Clean Slate Films and has produced plenty of critically-renowned movies with a lot of her work shedding light on societal issues. The two are also active investors in numerous companies thereby expanding their business portfolio. Anushka is a regular presence in games that Kohli features in and her drive from the stands powers Kohli ahead despite the batsman not needing a second invitation to get pumped up. With the dynamics between the two never better on and off the field, the couple strike a fine balance between performance and parlay and continue to go from strength to strength in their personal and professional lives. 

MS Dhoni – Sakshi 

This list had to have Thala and his beloved Thalaivi (the Tamil word for the feminine version of leader), a couple venerated by the cricket fans in India and the world over, and in no small measure among cricket-crazy fans in Chennai. Turn any corner in the city and chances are you will spot at least one CSK shirt with the iconic #7 on it. That’s the incredibly spellbinding influence that Dhoni holds on the city. 

For a man that hogs all the limelight wherever he goes, Dhoni is still enviably old-school, sporadically picks up his phone and less even, shows what he’s up to on social media. But fans have his better half, Sakshi to thank, who chips in with pictures and reels of Dhoni going about enjoying a simple day. Her uploads are gospel for millions of his fans who await as if waiting for the holy veil to open for a glimpse of salvation upon spotting their god’s holy form. 

Interestingly, Sakshi didn’t know who Dhoni was when they first met, with Dhoni’s better half having no idea due to her then disinterest in cricket. But once she did know who the man was, it was only a matter of time before witty embarrassment and love was in the air. 

The duo tied the knot in 2010 and have a cute little kid, Ziva, who was born in 2015 and is an absolute furball of adoration for Dhoni fans across the world. Funnily enough, she is also one of only four people that the wicketkeeper-bat from Ranchi follows on his Instagram account. 

Mitchell Starc – Alyssa Healy

One of the most successful combos not just in cricket, but in sport, the duo of Alyssa Healy and Mitchell ‘Mitch’ Starc screams trophies and the ability to come clutch in the big moments. 

The duo met first at the age of 9 at a wicketkeeping camp (Starc started off as a wicketkeeper?!) and have been together ever since, tying the knot in 2016. The couple often showcase their support and backing for each other by making regular appearances at each other’s games. In 2020, Starc opted out of playing an ODI against South Africa to watch his wife in action in the final of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup against India. Earlier this year, Healy joined Starc at the Kolkata Knight Riders when the Australian pacer was going through a tough start to the season. With Alyssa by his side, Starc stormed back to form picking up three and two wickets apiece in the Qualifier 1 and the Final as he led Kolkata to their 3rd IPL title. Starc was also spotted supporting Healy when she was out leading the UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League. Talk about being a keeper! 

Better things are around the corner with your better half by your side, feat. Mitch Starc. 

But when it comes to on-field success, the list is endless for the duo from New South Wales. 

HEALY-STARC: HITTING IT OUT OF THE PARK

Healy holds the record for the highest individual score by a women’s cricketer in T20 internationals scoring 148 against Sri Lanka in 2019. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc is third in the list of the highest wicket-takers in World Cup history with 65. While Healy is still yet to win the Women’s Premier League title with the Warriorz, it might not be too far along, especially if her darling paceman is around to have her back. 

With team and individual trophies following them wherever they go, the ‘Stealy’ gang stands tall as an all-conquering force in the domain of Australian and world cricket.