13 Overseas cricketers with Indian connections

There was a time not many cricketers wanted to tour India, largely because of stereotyping it as a nation with rugged roads and cows on streets. But now that the nation has developed so much and India has become a cricketing giant, the players love coming back to India again and again. Be it the IPL or be it the international games, the players always feel the passion that the fans have for the game here and rejoice in the atmosphere here. While some have made it a second home, others have found love here. Here are 13 overseas cricketers who have Indian connections. 1. Sir Gary Sobers link-up with actress Anju Mahendroo: (Photo Source: bollywoodmantra) West Indian legend Sir Gary Sobers was linked up with upcoming Indian actress Anju Mahendroo during West Indies’ tour to India in 1966-67. The two met at a common friend’s house and the actress was wooed by the attention that Sobers showered on her. As the actress recalls the past moments, she admits that Sobers soon gave her an engagement ring which she accepted gleefully. But after a brief while, the couple parted ways as Anju started seeing Indian actor Rajesh Khanna and Sobers had to fly back to England. The time when the two of them were together, Sobers would invite her to all the matches and even come to meet her during the break, which made Anju feel like a ‘queen’, as she admits! 2. Sir Viv Richards and Neena Gupta: Sir Viv Richards. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The love between the West Indian cricketers and Indian actresses had another fairy tale in the making. Sir Vivian Richards was already married when he met Neena Gupta, an Indian actress. The couple had a very unconventional and a brief relationship. They did not get married but Neena Gupta’s pregnancy garnered a lot of media attention. They have a daughter, Masaba Gupta, who is a fashion designer now. Although they did not marry, Sir Richards and Neena Gupta continue to be taking all responsibilities of being the parents of Masaba. 3. Mohsin Khan and Reena Roy: (Photo Source: pakistantribe) Former Pakistan opener was love struck with Indian actress Reena Roy during the 1980s. Reena Roy was at the peak of her career when she met Mohsin Khan. The two decided to get married and went ahead with the plan in 1983. Reena Roy called it quits on her acting career after the marriage. Despite having a strong bond, the marriage did not last long enough. The couple had a daughter and named her Jannat (later renamed as Sanam). Mohsin Khan also had a brief stint as an actor in the Indian film industry. Post their divorce, Reena Roy also decided to get back to movies and restart her acting career. 4. Zaheer Abbas and Rita Luthra: (Photo Source: bollywoodshaadis) Pakistan’s run machine in the 1980s, Zaheer Abbas, met Rita Luthra in England. Rita Luthra was an interior designing student in the United Kingdom. It was during Zaheer’s stint with the county team of Gloucestershire, that he met Rita. The batsman who rarely got out on the field was bowled over by Rita on the love track. The couple did not face any problems in their marriage since their fathers were good friends. Prior to the partition of India-Pakistan, the Luthra family was based in Faisalabad. The couple married in 1988 and Rita was renamed as Samina Abbas. The couple now live in Karachi. 5. Glenn Turner meets his Punjabi connection: (Photo Source: newsnation) Former New Zealand cricketer Glenn Turner married Sukhinder Kaur Gill in the year 1973. The couple moved to Dunedin post their marriage. Sukhinder went on to become an influential politician of Indian descent in New Zealand. She even served as the Mayor of Dunedin for almost 10 years! The couple have two children. Sukhinder was fondly named as Sukhi Turner in New Zealand. 6. Mike Brearley and Mana Sarabhai: (Photo Source: Getty Images) One of the greatest leaders of English cricket, Mike Brearley led England to a historic Ashes win in 1981. Mike met Mana Sarabhai during England’s tour to India in 1976-77. Mana is the daughter of Gujarati Businessman Gautam Sarabhai and niece of Vikram Sarabhai, father of India’s space programme. Brearley hired a Gujarati tutor and took Gujarati lessons for almost 4 years after his marriage to Mana Sarabhai. The couple happily settled in England and have two children. 7. Muttiah Muralitharan’s Tamil connection: (Photo Source: indiatimes) Muttiah Muralitharan, perhaps the greatest off-spinner to play the game of cricket, got married to a lady from Chennai, Madhimalar Ramamurthy, in 2005. Interestingly, Muralitharan, at one stage of his career, was the only player in the Sri Lankan team with Tamil roots. He got back to his roots when he tied the knot with Madhimalar, daughter of Dr. S. Ramamurthy of the famous Malar Hospitals. The couple became proud parents in 2006 when they were blessed with a baby boy. 8. Brett Lee’s Acting Connection: (Photo Source: tribune) The former Australian speedster Brett Lee started off a new inning in movies after his retirement from cricket. Lee has always been a popular face in India. Earlier he had recorded a song album with Indian singer Asha Bhosle. Lee’s verse in Hindi in that album “Haan main tumhara hoon, tumhara hi rahunga” became a big hit. Lee later signed a movie titled ‘UnIndian’ opposite Bengali actress Tanishta Chatterjee. The movie was shot in Sydney but is yet to be released in India. We wish Brett Lee all the luck for his acting career! 9. Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza: (Photo Source: Shoaib Malik Instagram Handle) Perhaps the most popular love story between India and Pakistan was that of Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza. Pakistan’s middle order batsman Shoaib got married to Indian tennis star Sania in 2010. Both Sania and Shoaib had their connections prior to settling down together. While Sania was engaged to her childhood friend Sohrab Mirza, Malik was secretly married to another Indian girl Ayesha Siddiqui. Malik got divorced and then married Sania who also called off her engagement in 2010. The couple is now happily married for over 5 years. Sania is often seen cheering Shoaib Malik from the stands. 10. Dwayne Bravo’s love for Chennai: Dwayne Bravo. (Photo Source: BCCI) The West Indies all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo, made all the news with his latest smash hit ‘Champion’ song. It is interesting to know that Bravo, who played for the Chennai Superkings in the IPL, had a deep love for the city. Bravo even acted in a Tamil movie ‘Ula’. His dance number in the movie on the song titled ‘Yenda’ was a big hit in Tamil industry. Bravo is now all set to start his own dance school in Chennai. Way to go Champion! 11. AB de Villiers proposal at the Taj Mahal: (Photo Source: cooolcricket) South African batsman AB de Villiers in undoubtedly the most loved overseas player in India. AB took a small break during the IPL 5 to take his lady love to Taj Mahal in Agra. He proposed Danielle Swart at the Taj and the lady accepted the proposal. Certainly AB de Villiers found the ideal place to propose his love interest. The couple later got married and now have a son, AB de Villiers Junior. Interestingly, AB is adored in India. The chants of ABD go wild whenever he steps in to bat for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. AB has confessed his love for the city of Bengaluru and loves coming here. He played his 100th Test at Bengaluru too! 12. Shaun Tait bowled over by Indian model: Shaun Tait and girlfriend Mashoom Singha. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Shaun Tait found the love of his life during the IPL 2010 when he was playing for the Rajasthan Royals. Tait was smitten by the charm of Indian model Mashoom Singha, who is a former Miss Earth India. Tait and Mashoom dated for over four years before Tait proposed his love interest during their vacation in Paris in 2014. The couple tied the knot in a traditional Indian way in a small ceremony in Mumbai. 13. Jonty Rhodes names his daughter India: Jonty Rhodes MI. (Photo Source: Zee News India) The live wire on the field, former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, became a proud father during the 2015 edition of the IPL in Mumbai. Jonty Rhodes is a part of the coaching staff of the Mumbai Indians. The baby girl was born in Santacruz and Rhodes decided to name his daughter as India Jeanne Rhodes. Jonty was quick to admit his love for India and quoted ,“I have spent a lot of time here [in India]. What I love about India is that it’s a rich mix of culture, heritage and tradition. It is a very spiritual country, very forward-thinking nation. I really like that combination. You have to have a good balance of life. With the name like India, she will have the best of both worlds and that sort of balance.” Also Watch: MS Dhoni at his humorous best

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13 Overseas cricketers with Indian connections

9. Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza:

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