In a heartwarming social media announcement, former Indian cricket opener Shikhar Dhawan has revealed his engagement to long-time girlfriend Sophie Shine. The couple shared the joyful news with their fans on Saturday, January 12, 2026, marking a significant personal milestone for the retired sports icon.
Instagram Announcement and Heartfelt Message
The announcement was made simultaneously on both Dhawan and Shine's official Instagram handles. They posted a beautiful photograph of their hands clasped together, with a dazzling engagement ring visible. Accompanying the image was a poetic caption that read, "From shared smiles to shared dreams. Grateful for the love, the blessings and every good wish for our engagement as we choose togetherness forever."
This public declaration comes after the pair made their relationship official on the same platform on May 1, 2025. Sophie Shine, who hails from Ireland, is a well-known social media personality with a substantial following of approximately 347,000 on Instagram.
Dhawan's Personal Journey and Stellar Career
For the 40-year-old Dhawan, this engagement opens a new chapter following his previous marriage to Ayesha Mukherjee, which lasted from 2012 to 2023. On the professional front, Dhawan bid farewell to all forms of cricket on August 24, 2024, retiring from both international and domestic circuits.
His career statistics cement his legacy as one of India's finest white-ball openers. In 167 One Day Internationals, Dhawan amassed 6,793 runs at an impressive average of 44.11, including 17 centuries and 39 half-centuries. He was equally formidable in the shortest format, scoring 1,759 runs in 68 T20Is with 11 fifties and a strike rate of 126.36.
A Glorious Legacy in Cricket
Dhawan's Test career, though shorter, was marked by a spectacular debut. In March 2013 against Australia in Mohali, he announced his arrival with a blistering 187 runs off 174 balls, setting the record for the fastest century on Test debut (85 balls).
He was instrumental in India's triumphant 2013 ICC Champions Trophy campaign, earning the Player of the Tournament award. Alongside Rohit Sharma, he formed one of the most destructive opening partnerships in ODI history. The duo piled up 5,148 runs in 115 innings together, sharing 18 century stands. Combined with Virat Kohli, this top-three combination dominated world cricket for over a decade.
Dhawan also led the Indian national team, captaining in 12 ODIs and 3 T20Is between 2021 and 2022. As he embarks on this new journey of lifelong partnership with Sophie Shine, fans worldwide extend their warmest congratulations to the couple.
