Yuzvendra Chahal, an Indian cricketer, and dance choreographer Dhanashree Verma was granted divorce by a Mumbai family court on Thursday, March 20.  The cricketer and his estranged wife arrived at Bandra Family Court at midday for the hearing on their divorce petition.  

The hearing was scheduled for Thursday after the Bombay High Court ordered the family court to expedite procedures due to Chahal's commitments with the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

According to the Hindu Marriage Act, a couple must go through a six-month cooling-off period before their divorce is issued to allow time to consider the prospect of reconciliation. Aside from requesting for this to be waived, the petition also requested that the family court expedite the divorce proceedings.

Chahal and Dhanashree were married in December 2020. Their petition states that they will split up in June 2022. On February 5, they filed a joint petition in the family court for divorce by mutual consent.

The High Court noted that Chahal and Verma had been separated for almost two and a half years,and that the agreed terms reached during mediation between the two parties regarding alimony payment had been followed.

Chahal arrived first, wearing a hooded black jacket, a face mask, and spectacles. He was joined by his lawyers. Dhanashree arrived a little later, wearing sunglasses and a mask, and was assisted by security and aides.

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The family court refused to lift the cooling-off period, citing only partial compliance with the consent requirements that compelled Chahal to pay Rs 4.75 crore to Dhanashree.

He had paid Rs 2.37 crore, the family court found. It also highlighted a marriage counselor's report, which stated that there was only partial compliance with mediation efforts.

However, the top court ruled on Wednesday that the agreed terms were followed because they specified that the second installment of permanent alimony would be paid only once the divorce order was received.

(PTI/ANI inputs)