Cricket WAGs: Meet the glamorous women behind the stars of the pitch
As the much-anticipated India vs Australia Test match at The Gabba approaches, we get to know the inspiring and glamorous women behind the cricketers who’ll be taking the field.
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The much-anticipated India vs. Australia cricket showdown at The Gabba on Saturday is about more than just the on-field action.
Behind every star cricketer stands a partner offering unwavering support, and sometimes stealing the limelight themselves.
Here’s a closer look at the lives, careers, and love stories of the WAGs (wives and girlfriends) of both teams.
INDIAN CRICKETERS AND THEIR PARTNERS
1. VIRAT KOHLI AND ANUSHKA SHARMA
Wedding: December 2017 | Children: Two (Vamika, 3, and Akaay, 10 months).
The epitome of a power couple, Virat Kohli, 35 and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma, 35, met through a commercial shoot and tied the knot in a dreamy Italian ceremony.
Anushka is an acclaimed actor and producer,, having debuted in the 2008 hit Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.
She also has a massive following, with 69 million Instagram followers, and frequently collaborates with global brands including Michael Kors, Puma, and Pepsi.
Forbes Asia once listed her among the most influential people under 30.
2. ROHIT SHARMA AND RITIKA SAJDEH
Wedding: December 2015 | Children: One (Samaira, 5)
Ritika Sajdeh, 36, wife of Indian team captain, Rohit Sharma, 37, is a former sports manager who now focuses on managing Rohit’s brand endorsements.
She has over 2.9 million Instagram followers and often shares family moments with her daughter and husband.
The couple met during a professional photo shoot in 2008.
3. KL RAHUL AND ATHIYA SHETTY
Wedding: January 2023 | Children: Expecting first in 2025
KL Rahul, 32, India’s batsman, is married to Bollywood actor Athiya Shetty, 31, the daughter of veteran actor Suniel Shetty.
Athiya debuted in the 2015 film Hero and has since appeared in several Bollywood projects. With 4.6 million Instagram followers, she is known for her fashion-forward style.
The couple, who began dating in 2019 before tying the knot in January 2023, announced their pregnancy in November.
4. JASPRIT BUMRAH AND SANJANA GANESAN
Wedding: March 2021 | Children: One (Angad, 1).
India’s star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, 30, is married to Sanjana Ganesan, 32, a former Miss India finalist and sports presenter.
Sanjana has partnered with global brands like Dove and Huggies, amassing over two million followers on Instagram, becoming a prominent figure in Indian media.
Bumrah and Ganesan first met during the 2013-14 IPL season when the former was just a rising name in Indian cricket. In March 2021, they tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Goa.
5. RAVINDRA JADEJA AND RIVABA JADEJA
Wedding: April 2016 | Children: One (Nidhyana, 7)
Rivaba Jadeja, 33, wife of Ravindra Jadeja, 35, is a politician and member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Known for her strong advocacy for women’s rights and empowerment, Rivaba has over 2.4 million Instagram followers.
She balances her political career with motherhood, having welcomed daughter Nidhyana in 2017.
6. SHUBMAN GILL AND AVNEET KAUR
Shubman Gill, 24, is rumoured to be dating actor Avneet Kaur, 23, who boasts 32 million Instagram followers and has starred in numerous TV shows and movies.
Speculation peaked on September 8, 2024, when Avneet shared a heartfelt birthday post for Shubman, sparking buzz across social media.
Before these rumours, Shubman was often linked to Sara Tendulkar, daughter of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Their rumoured relationship, which began in 2020, included public sightings and Sara attending Shubman’s matches.
However, both kept it private, and that chapter now appears to have quietly closed.
7. MOHAMMED SIRAJ AND MAHIRA SHARMA
Two contrasting rumours surround Mohammed Siraj, 30, one of India’s premier fast bowlers. One suggests he is engaged to a woman from his hometown in Hyderabad, though her identity remains a mystery.
The other links him romantically to Mahira Sharma, 27, a popular Bollywood actor and former Bigg Boss contestant, who boasts an impressive 9 million followers on Instagram.
8. YASHASVI JAISWAL AND MADDIE HAMILTON
Rising star, Yashasvi Jaiswal, 22, is rumoured to be dating UK-based student Maddie Hamilton, 21, who has been spotted cheering for him at matches.
9. WASHINGTON SUNDAR AND VARSHINI SOUNDERAJAN
Washington Sundar, 24, is reportedly dating actor Varshini Sounderajan, 27, known for her roles in South Indian cinema.
Varshini has 1.9 million Instagram followers and continues to rise as a prominent actor in Indian cinema.
10. SARFARAZ KHAN AND ROMANA ZAHOOR
Wedding: August 2023 | Children: One (Name unknown, one month)
Sarfaraz Khan, 27, married his Kashmiri girlfriend, Romana Zahoor on Aug 7, 2023.
Currently a Bachelor of Science student, Zahoor met Khan through a mutual family connection, and what began as a friendship blossomed into a love story.
11. RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN AND PRITHI NARAYANAN
Wedding: November 2011 | Children: Two (Akhira, 9, and Aadhya, 7)
Ashwin, 38, has been married to internet personality Prithi Narayanan, 36, since 13 November 2011. They share two daughters Akhira and Aadhya.
According to sources close to the couple, Ashwin and Narayanan attended the same school and became friends after a series of interactions.
At that time, Ashwin was reportedly in love with Narayanan, but never had the courage to tell her about his feelings.
12. RISHABH PANT AND ISHA NEGI
Rishabh Pant, 26, India’s star wicketkeeper, has been in a long-term relationship with Isha Negi, 26, a model, entrepreneur, and interior designer. Their love story began in 2015, during Pant’s days with the Under-19 team.
However, it wasn’t until 2019, after India’s historic Test series victory in Australia, that the couple went public with their relationship.
Isha garnered widespread attention when she posted a heartfelt tribute to Rishabh on Instagram that same year, capturing the hearts of fans. Rumours now swirl that the couple could be tying the knot in 2025.
13. PRASIDH KRISHNA AND RACHANA KRISHNA
Wedding: June 2023
Prasidh Krishna, 28, a right-arm fast bowler, married educator Rachana Krishna, 27, in June 2023, in a traditional South Indian wedding.
The couple keeps a low profile but shares moments from their life on Instagram.
Krishna is understood to be a product manager for Dell.
AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS AND THEIR PARTNERS
1. PAT CUMMINS AND BECKY CUMMINS (NEE BOSTON)
Wedding: August 2022 | Children: One (Albie, 3 and expecting 2nd child in 2025)
Becky Cummins, 33 and Pat Cummins, 31, met in 2013, got engaged in June 2020, and married last year in a lavish Byron Bay ceremony.
Cricket stars like Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, along with comedian Andy Lee, attended their French chateau-inspired wedding.
The British model-turned-interior designer welcomed their son Albie in October 2021, with Pat calling himself “beyond besotted.”
Becky shares glimpses of her life with her 35,000 Instagram followers, balancing motherhood and attending events around Sydney.
The couple are expecting a second child in late January or early February.
2. USMAN KHAWAJA AND RACHEL KHAWAJA
Wedding: April 2018 | Children: Two (Aisha, 4, Ayla, 2)
Rachel Khawaja, 28, is the wife of Australia’s first Muslim Test cricketer, Usman Khawaja, 37.
The couple’s love story began with a romantic proposal during a 2016 holiday in New York. That same year, Rachel converted to Islam, and they were married under Islamic Sharia Law at a Brisbane mosque. Their grand wedding celebration took place on April 6, 2018, at Gold Coast’s picturesque Maleny Manor.
Now a mother to two daughters, Aisha (4) and Ayla (2), Rachel balances family life with her thriving career. A Griffith University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, she has carved a name for herself as Channel 7’s newest cricket reporter and an ambassador for Affinity Diamonds.
3. TRAVIS HEAD (30) & JESSICA DAVIES
Wedding: April 2024 | Children: One (Milla, 1)
Model Jessica Davies married her cricketer beau, Travis Head, 30, in a stunning Adelaide ceremony this past April, following their engagement in March 2021. The pair’s love story began during their school days at Trinity College in Gawler, nestled in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
They are also proud parents to their daughter, Milla, born in September 2023.
4. MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE AND REBEKAH LABUSCHAGNE (NEE GILLAM)
Wedding: May 2017 | Children: One (Hallie, 2)
Rebekah Labuschagne, 26, is the wife of Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne, 30.
Childhood sweethearts, the couple has been together since the age of 17, solidifying their bond over years of shared dreams and ambitions.
They tied the knot on May 26, 2017, in a beautiful ceremony at Sirromet Wines in Mount Cotton, Redland.
Hailing from Brisbane, Rebekah often shares glimpses of their life together with her 18,600 Instagram followers. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Hallie, in September 2022.
5. NATHAN LYON AND EMMA LYON (NEE MCCARTHY)
Wedding: July 2022
Emma Lyon, 33, the stylish wife of Australian cricketer Nathan Lyon, 36, is often spotted by the pitch showcasing her love for high-end fashion. The couple tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in July 2022, following rumours of their engagement in early 2021 when Emma was seen wearing a dazzling diamond ring.
Nathan and Emma’s relationship began in 2017, shortly after his public split from former partner Mel Waring.
The pair went public later that year when they were photographed together in Perth. In 2020, they took the next step in their relationship, purchasing a $3.8 million townhouse in Sydney’s Tennyson Point.
6. STEVE SMITH AND DANI SMITH (NEE WILLIS)
Wedding: 2018
Dani Smith, 32, the wife of Australian cricketer Steve Smith, 35, brings her own sporty background to their partnership as a former water polo player and avid swimmer. The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony at Bendooley Estate in New South Wales in 2018, marking the beginning of their married life amid the demands of Steve’s cricketing career. Known for keeping their relationship mostly private, Dani has shared insights into how they maintain their strong bond despite often being apart due to busy schedules.
7. SEAN ABBOTT (32) & BRIER ABBOTT (31)
Wedding: June 2022 | Children: Two (Ella, 3, Arlo, newborn)
Brier Abbott, wife of Australian cricketer Sean Abbott, is an English teacher at Lycée Condorcet Sydney – International French School. The couple, who began their relationship in 2020, tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony in June 2022.
Brier and Sean are proud parents to two children: their daughter, Ella, born in December 2021, and their newborn son, Arlo, who arrived on December 11, 2024.
Balancing family life with her career, Brier shares glimpses of their happy life on social media.
8. JOSH INGLIS (29) & MEGAN KINCART (27)
Engagement: April 2024 | Children: One (Oscar, 1)
Megan Kincart, fiancee of Australian cricketer Josh Inglis, has been by his side through his rise in international cricket. The couple, who have been together for years, got engaged on April 4, 2024, solidifying their long-time relationship.
Proud parents to their son, Oscar, born on June 29, 2023, Megan and Josh frequently share heartwarming moments of their family life on social media. As they prepare to tie the knot, Megan remains a supportive presence, balancing family life while cheering on Josh from the sidelines.
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