Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has taken a major step in his personal life, announcing his engagement to girlfriend Sophie Shine through a post on Instagram on Monday, January 12. The couple has been together for some time and had officially confirmed their relationship on May 1 last year.

Sharing the news with his followers, Dhawan wrote, “From shared smiles to shared dreams. Grateful for the love, the blessings and every good wish for our engagement as we choose togetherness forever.”

Sophie Shine, who had earlier sparked public attention by sharing a photo with Dhawan captioned “My love” along with a heart emoji, was the first to publicly acknowledge their relationship. The post had gone viral and put an end to months of speculation surrounding the former cricketer’s personal life.

Over the past year, Dhawan and Sophie have made several public appearances together. They were seen watching a Champions Trophy match in Dubai, attended a media conclave together, and Sophie was frequently present at IPL matches, openly supporting Dhawan during his time with Punjab Kings. On social media, she has also featured in several light-hearted videos shared by Dhawan.

Who is Sophie Shine?

Sophie is an Irish national and works as a product consultant. According to her LinkedIn profile, she currently serves as Second Vice President Product Consultant at Northern Trust Corporation, a US-based financial services firm. She is based in the UAE and holds a qualification in Marketing and Management from the Limerick Institute of Technology, having completed her earlier education at Castleroy College in Ireland.

Reports suggest the couple first met in Dubai several years ago, where an initial friendship gradually evolved into a romantic relationship. They are said to have been living together for over a year and are now preparing to take the next step. According to a Hindustan Times report, the wedding is likely to take place in February. A source said, “It’s a new beginning and they are treating it with quiet happiness and a lot of gratitude,” adding that Dhawan has been “personally involved in the planning.”

The engagement comes after a challenging period in Dhawan’s life. He officially retired from all forms of cricket in August 2024, closing a celebrated career that included a pivotal role in India’s Champions Trophy triumph in 2013 under MS Dhoni.

On the personal front, Dhawan divorced Aesha Mukherjee in October 2023, ending their 11-year marriage. In February 2025, he spoke candidly about the emotional pain of being separated from his son, Zoravar. A Delhi court, while granting the divorce, observed that Dhawan had suffered mental trauma and recorded that he had been kept away from his child for several years. Although he was granted visitation rights and video calls for a “reasonable duration,” Dhawan later revealed that he was blocked from all virtual communication.