Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma Are Divorced

A Bandra family court on Thursday granted a divorce by mutual consent to cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his estranged wife, Dhanashree Verma, concluding their legal separation. The couple, married in December 2020 and separated since June 2022, appeared before the court, which accepted their joint petition after confirming compliance with agreed terms.

Advocate Nitin Gupta, representing Chahal, confirmed the court’s decree, noting, “The family court has accepted the joint petition filed by Chahal and Verma seeking divorce by mutual consent.” The ruling followed a Bombay High Court directive on Wednesday, urging the family court to expedite the decision by Thursday due to Chahal’s upcoming commitments with Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting March 22.

The couple had filed their divorce petition on February 5, but faced delays due to the mandatory six-month cooling-off period under the Hindu Marriage Act, intended to encourage reconciliation. On February 20, the family court rejected their request to waive this period, citing partial compliance with consent terms—Chahal had paid Rs 2.37 crore of a Rs 4.75 crore alimony settlement, with the balance due post-divorce—and a counselor’s report indicating incomplete mediation efforts. Challenging this, Chahal and Verma approached the High Court, which on Wednesday overruled the objection, affirming that the payment schedule aligned with their agreement and waived the cooling-off period.

The High Court’s intervention ensured a swift resolution, accommodating Chahal’s IPL schedule. The leg-spinner, known for his on-field flair, and Verma, a choreographer and YouTuber, had maintained a low profile about their split until legal proceedings surfaced. Thursday’s decree marks the end of their four-year marriage, with the court upholding their mutual decision to part ways amicably, setting a precedent for expedited divorce proceedings under exceptional circumstances.