Putting an end to months of speculation, former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has officially introduced his girlfriend, Sophie Shine, to the public. The Irish national shared a photograph of the couple on social media, tagging Dhawan and captioning it "My Love." The post quickly went viral, sparking a wave of reactions from fans.
This marks the first time both Dhawan and Sophie have publicly acknowledged their relationship. The couple was first seen together in November last year, leading to curiosity and fan speculation about the identity of the woman accompanying the cricketer. Since then, the two have been spotted together on multiple occasions, including at the recent India–Bangladesh match during the Champions Trophy and at a media conclave.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Sophie Shine is a product consultant currently serving as Second Vice President – Product Consultant at Northern Trust Corporation, an American financial services company. She is based in the UAE, where the couple reportedly met. Past Relationship and Divorce Dhawan was previously married to Ayesha Mukherjee, a Melbourne-based fitness trainer and kickboxer.
The couple met in 2008 and married in 2012. Notably, Ayesha is 12 years older than Dhawan. They have a son together, Zoravar Dhawan.
However, after nearly a decade of marriage, Ayesha announced their separation via social media in 2021. She also deleted her Instagram profile with Dhawan surname, reverting to her maiden account name. Their divorce was finalised by a Delhi family court in October 2023.
The court ruled in Dhawan’s favour, citing mental cruelty and emotional distress inflicted by Ayesha. The judgment noted that Ayesha, who had resided in Australia for several years, had kept their son away from Dhawan, causing the cricketer emotional trauma. Judge Harish Kumar stated that Dhawan had endured significant mental suffering, and the court held Ayesha responsible.
Dhawan's Post-Divorce Struggles In February 2025, Dhawan spoke publicly about the challenges he has faced since the divorce. He revealed that it had been two years since he last saw his son and over a year since they last spoke. His candid admission highlighted the ongoing emotional toll the separation has had on him.
As Dhawan embarks on a new chapter in his personal life with Sophie Shine, fans have responded with warmth and support, hoping for a fresh beginning for the cricket star.
