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Rahul and Athiya (Photo Source: Twitter)

While many cricketers come from middle-class backgrounds, dedicating their lives to the game and becoming self-made stars, others come from well-established or affluent backgrounds. In some cases, cricketers marry into families that are already influential, either hailing from royal, business, political, or film families. However, coming from or marrying into wealth doesn’t take away from their talent or dedication. 

7. Ravindra Jadeja and Rivaba Jadeja Ravindra Jadeja & his Wife. (Photo Source: Instagram/Rivaba Jadeja)

Star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and his wife met Rivaba, then Riva Solanki, at a party through his sister Naina, who was already good friends with her. The couple got engaged in February 2016 at Jadeja’s restaurant, 'Jaddu’s Food Field'. Just two months later, on April 17, 2016, the couple tied the knot in a royal three-day celebration in Rajkot.

Rivaba comes from a wealthy and well-connected family. Her father, Hardev Singh Solanki, is a businessman, while her mother worked with Indian Railways. She is also the niece of Congress leader Hari Singh Solanki. A mechanical engineering graduate, Rivaba made her political debut in 2019 with the BJP and is currently an MLA from Jamnagar North. She won her first election in 2022 with a massive margin. Rivaba also runs an NGO promoting women’s empowerment couple are parents to daughter Nidhyana, born in June 2017.

6. S. Sreesanth and Bhuvneshwari Kumari: Sreesanth and Bhuvneshwari Kumari. (Photo Source: Midday)

Former Indian pacer S. Sreesanth is the husband of Bhuvneshwari Kumari, who comes from the royal Shekhawat family of Alwar in Rajasthan. Her father is Hirendra Singh Shekhawat, and her mother is Muktha Singh.

The two first met during a cricket event in Jaipur. The duo finally tied the knot on 12 December 2013. Meanwhile, their wedding included both South Indian and Rajasthani ceremonies. Today, they are parents of two children, daughter Sree Sanvika and son Surya Sree. She is a jewelry designer by profession and is active on social media. Despite pacer being accused in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal, the bowler faced suspension and public criticism; his wife, Bhuvneshwari, supported him, believing in his innocence. In 2015, Sreesanth was acquitted.

5. Ajay Jadeja and Aditi Jaitely: Aditi Jaitley and Ajay Jadeja. (Photo source: X)

Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja and his wife Aditi Jaitly belong to royal and political families, respectively. On October 12, 2024, Ajay was officially declared the heir to the Jamnagar royal throne by Maharaja Shatrusalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji Jadeja. With this announcement, Ajay’s net worth went to INR 1,450 crore, making him India’s richest cricketer.

Ajay comes from a historic cricketing and royal family, with a connection to legends like K.S. Ranjitsinhji and K.S. Duleepsinhji. Meanwhile, his wife, Aditi Jaitly, is the daughter of politician Jaya Jaitly. Aditi is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and has performed at national and international platforms and collaborated with stalwarts like Leela Samson. Together, they have two children.

4. Deepak Chahar and Jaya Chahar: Deepak Chahar and Jaya Bhardwaj. (Photo source: Instagram/Deepak Chahar)

Indian cricketer Deepak Chahar and businesswoman Jaya Bhardwaj tied the knot on June 1, 2022, in Agra, after a grand proposal during IPL 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium. Their relationship which was private until Deepak got down on one knee to propose to his wife.

Jaya, a successful corporate professional, comes from a wealthy Delhi-based family. She has worked with leading organisations such as Star TV, BBC, Universal Music Group, and Airtel. She is also the co-founder of the fantasy sports platform Trade Fantasy Game, under JCDC Sports Pvt. Ltd., which she runs with Deepak. Recently, the couple made an appearance at Wimbledon 2025 in London. 

3. Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra: (Photo Source: Harbhajan Singh Facebook Handle)

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and British-born Bollywood actress Geeta Basra have been one of the most loved celebrity couples since their wedding on October 29, 2015. The duo tied the knot in a traditional Punjabi ceremony in Jalandhar after nearly eight years of dating.

Geeta, who comes from a well-off family in Portsmouth, England, is known for her work in Bollywood films like Dil Diya Hai and The Train. She eventually stepped away from acting to focus on family life after marrying Harbhajan. Her father is a businessman, and the Basra family has long been financially secure and well-established. On the other hand, Harbhajan is one of India’s most successful spinners with 417 Test wickets. The couple has two children, daughter Hinaya Heer and son Jovan Veer. Recently, Harbhajan and Geeta launched their talk show titled Who’s The Boss?, which provides a peek into the lives of cricketers and their spouses. 

2. KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty: Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Athiya Shetty)

Indian cricketer KL Rahul and Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty tied the knot in a private ceremony on January 23, 2023, at actor Suniel Shetty’s lavish Khandala farmhouse. Athiya, daughter of actor and entrepreneur Suniel, belongs to a prominent film family. Her father is one of Bollywood’s most iconic and wealthiest stars, while her mother, Mana Shetty, is a successful businesswoman. Athiya debuted in Hero (2015) and appeared in a few films before stepping away from acting.

Meanwhile, Rahul currently featuring in India's Test series against England, began dating Athiya in 2019. They made their relationship official in 2021. In November 2024, the couple announced they were expecting their first child. On March 24, 2025, they welcomed a baby girl named Evaarah Vipula Rahul. Athiya revealed that Evaarah means gift of God, while Vipula honours her maternal grandmother. The name was shared on Rahul’s 32nd birthday.Na

1. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore: Nawab Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi with wife Sharmila Tagore (Source: X)

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore’s is one of the most crossover of cricket and Bollywood. Both hailed from illustrious and respected families, Pataudi was born into royalty as the Nawab of Pataudi, with a lineage in Indian princely states and a cricketing legacy through his father, Iftikhar Ali Khan. Educated at Oxford, he went on to become one of India’s youngest and most stylish Test captains.

Meanwhile, Sharmila Tagore, a member of the revered Tagore family, related to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, was already a celebrated film star when she married Pataudi in 1968. Together, they raised three children, including Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan. Interestingly, the recently introduced Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy replaced the Pataudi Trophy. However, both the ECB and BCCI have come up with the Pataudi Medal, now awarded to the winning captain in the India-England Test series.

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