Amidst the adrenaline-charged world of sports, a captivating narrative emerges—a tale of love and companionship beyond the boundaries of the playing field. In the unpredictable world of sports, the athletes experience all kinds of days and moments, unpleasant and unexpected. While the players pour their hearts into representing their franchises, they draw strength from the continual encouragement by those who are the closest to them.
Kolkata Knight Riders, KKR is the team owned by Bollywood’s Badshah Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, along with her husband in partnership together. This team has won the IPL trophy thrice, with 2024 being the latest feather to their cap.
Today, we unravel about the remarkable better halves of some of the popular cricketers from the KKR franchise. From childhood friends to lifelong partners, each of the couple’s journey epitomizes the essence of enduring love amidst the rigors of professional sports.
- Sasha Hurly– The South African batsman Quinton de Kock is married to Sasha Hurley, and they were blessed with a daughter in January 2022. His fairytale love story with the former cheerleader, continues to captivate fans even today. From a memorable first meeting during a Champions League match that sparked an instant connection to their strong partnership as husband and wife, life has come a long way for the duo. Sasha and daughter are often seen travelling with the team squad and her social media account is filled with vivid pictures of the trio.
- Radhika Dhopavkar– Radhika and Ajinkya Rahane are known to be childhood sweethearts. From childhood friends to soulmates, Ajinkya Rahane and Radhika Dhopavkar’s love story blossomed in their neighborhood. The couple exchanged vows in a Maharashtrian wedding in 2014 and are parents to two beautiful children as of today. Radhika’s unwavering support has been pivotal in maintaining Ajinkya’s cricketing journey as she has always stood by him and accompanied for matches to be the pillar of support.
- Jassym Lora – Dre Russ, or the West Indies power-hitter is the partner of this beautiful woman. Jassym is a model and a fashion influencer in her professional space and has created her today. Andre Russell and his wife Jassym Lora tied the knot in a 2016 private ceremony. Jassym gave birth to a beautiful daughter in 2020. The mother and daughter are always seen cheering for Russell in the IPL and with her grace and strength she stands proudly by her partner.
- Shruti Raghunathan– The wife of KKR star performer and all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, Shruti is a talented fashion designer by profession. The couple sealed the deal in an intimate gathering in 2024, attended only by close friends and family. She has keen interests in fashion and singing, as per her social media posts. Shruti certainly brings a nuanced style and elegance to Iyer ‘s world, showcasing a bond that transcends the boundaries of sports.
- Priya Saroj – The most recent addition on the block, Priya is speculated to be the future spouse of KKR’s blue-eyed boy Rinku Singh. As per media reports, the 27-year-old cricketer from Aligarh, who has represented the country in the ODI and T20 formats will marry the lawyer-turned-politician in in the coming months after the two families agreed to the matrimonial alliance.
These remarkable and talented partners of Knight Riders’ athletes play a significant role as the moral compass and calming factor. These prolific women are more than just the wives and girlfriends of cricketers. They have created their own name – flourishing in diverse careers, pioneering causes while also being a sturdy rock in moments of distress. The players definitely thrive from the energy of their partners and make them flourish at every step of the way.
By: Tulika Agarwal
