Shikhar Dhawan finds love in Ireland’s Sophie Shine? Know everything about the buzz

Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan recently became a focal point of media attention, not for his on-field exploits but due to his association with Irish professional Sophie Shine. 

The duo's appearances together have ignited widespread speculation about a budding romance.

Public Appearances Spark Speculation

The buzz began when Dhawan was spotted with Sophie Shine during the India-Bangladesh match at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. Their camaraderie did not go unnoticed, leading to a flurry of discussions on social media platforms.

Men will be men ft. #ShikharDhawan 🤪pic.twitter.com/BfV28bXiv2

— tere naina (@nainaverse) February 21, 2025

Observers were quick to point out that this wasn't their first public appearance together; the pair was earlier seen together in November 2024 as well.

Who is Sophie Shine?

Sophie Shine hails from Limerick, Ireland. She pursued a degree in Marketing and Management from the Limerick Institute of Technology, graduating in 2015.

Professionally, Sophie has carved a niche for herself in the corporate world and currently holds the position of Second Vice President at Northern Trust Corporation in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Spotted for the first time with girlfriend Sophie Shine! Has Shikhar Dhawan found love again?#ShikharDhawan #sophieshine #relationship pic.twitter.com/vP1lXwjNYi

— Oneindia News (@Oneindia) April 7, 2025

Beyond her professional endeavors, Sophie is known to have a penchant for traveling and has shared glimpses of her journeys, including a visit to the Taj Mahal, on her social media platforms.

Dhawan's Take on the Relationship

While the public and media have been abuzz with conjectures, Dhawan has maintained a degree of discretion regarding his personal life.

At the Times Summit 2025, when probed about his relationship status, he candidly admitted to having moved on from his past, attributing his previous relationship choices to inexperience.

When further questioned about his readiness to embrace love again, Dhawan responded with a playful, "I am always in love!" However, he adeptly sidestepped revealing any specifics about his current partner.

When asked directly about her identity, he quipped, "See, I know how to dodge bouncers in cricket, and I know you're throwing one at me now. But I won't get caught. I will not take any name. But the most beautiful girl in the room is my girlfriend. Now you can figure it out."

The remarks have led social media to pinpoint that the now-retired Indian cricketer is in a possible relationship with Sophie Shine; although, the duo is yet to confirm or deny the claims.

Shikhar Dhawan's Past Relationship and Divorce

Shikhar Dhawan was previously married to Aesha Mukherji, an amateur kickboxer based in Melbourne. The couple got engaged in 2008, tied the knot in 2012, and welcomed their son, Zoravar, in 2014. Dhawan also became a stepfather to Aesha’s two daughters from her previous marriage.

However, their marital journey faced turbulence, leading to their separation in September 2021. The divorce was finalised in October 2023, with a Delhi court acknowledging that Dhawan had been subjected to mental agony by his wife, primarily due to prolonged separation from his son. 

ALSO READ: Shikhar Dhawan opens up on being ‘blocked’ from son’s life, forced to connect ‘spiritually’

Post-divorce, Dhawan faced challenges in maintaining a relationship with his son. Despite court-granted visitation rights, he revealed in an ANI interview that he had been blocked from all virtual communication with Zoravar.

Dhawan expressed his emotional turmoil, stating, "It has been two years since I have seen my son, one year since I last spoke to him."