Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his estranged wife Dhanashree Verma arrived at the Bandra Family Court for the hearing of their divorce proceedings on March 20, 2025.
The former couple is seeking a mutual divorce after filing a petition to waive the mandatory six-month cooling-off period under the Hindu Marriage Act.
The Bombay High Court had expedited their case and directed the family court to make a decision by today, March 20, 2025.
Chahal, who will be unavailable after March 21 due to his commitments with the Indian Premier League (IPL), was seen at the court dressed in an all-black outfit, wearing a face mask to avoid media attention. Dhanashree Verma, likewise, arrived with her legal team.
Both individuals have refrained from speaking to the media, preferring to keep the details of their separation private.
The couple had married in December 2020, and according to their divorce petition, they separated in June 2022. They filed for divorce by mutual consent in February 2025, requesting the waiver of the cooling-off period, which is typically mandated under Indian law for couples seeking a divorce.
The cooling-off period is intended to allow time for reconciliation, but the couple argued that they had already been living apart for over two years, and there was no chance of reconciliation.
The family court had initially denied their request to waive the cooling-off period, stating that only partial compliance had been made with the terms of their mediation, which included an alimony payment of ₹4.75 crore ($550,000), Chahal had already paid half of the agreed amount.
However, the Bombay High Court intervened, agreeing to fast-track the case. Justice Madhav Jamdar, who presided over the matter, noted that since Chahal would be unavailable due to his IPL schedule, the court instructed the family court to make a final decision on their divorce petition by March 20.
In a significant step forward, the High Court acknowledged the compliance with the consent terms and overruled the family court's decision. The remaining balance of the alimony payment will be made by Chahal after the divorce decree is finalised.
The couple had been living apart for more than two years, and their divorce has garnered media attention as they are both high-profile individuals in the Indian entertainment and sports worlds. Despite the legal proceedings, both Chahal and Verma have remained private about the details of their separation.
As the divorce is set to be finalised today, attention will now shift to the terms of the settlement and the future of both individuals. Fans of the cricketer and the dancer-choreographer have been speculating about their personal lives since they began following separate paths in mid-2022.
Social media, too, witnessed moments of tension when they unfollowed each other, fueling the rumours of their separation before the official announcement.
Chahal and Verma's legal teams will likely provide further details once the court's final ruling is made.
Earlier, Dhanashree Verma sparked speculation when she restored several Instagram pictures with her husband, cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal.
The move came just hours after Chahal was seen celebrating India’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai with radio jockey RJ Mahvash.
Dhanashree had archived all posts with Chahal, including their wedding pictures, which had fueled speculation about a rift.
However, later she unarchived those photos, including wedding images, joint brand collaborations, and outings together, indicating a possible shift in their relationship status.
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