Cricket news

Do you know the story of Dinesh Karthik’s lucky charm? Know how his life changed after 2015

After being betrayed by his first wife, RCB’s star player Dinesh Karthik found his lucky charm in 2015, when he married the international squash player Dipika Pallikal.

Published

4 years ago

June 1, 2022

The current best finisher of Indian cricket, Dinesh Karthik has finally found his correct place. The wicket keeper-batsman had an in and out relation with the Indian team. Ever since MS Dhoni made his debut in international cricket, BCCI’s hunt for Rahul Dravid successor came to an end but other wicket-keepers lost their position in the team. But after facing sever struggles and taking a short break from cricket, Dinesh Karthik made a comeback worth remembering.

Very very honoured and happy to receive this award.This is one award I set my eyes on and am very happy to have got it , competing with some of the best players in the world .

Thanks @hardikpandya7 for receiving the award on my behalf with that beaming smile ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GIxkGXcrR3
— DK (@DineshKarthik) May 29, 2022

And on his 37^th birthday, let us tell you the time when Dinesh Karthik’s worst nightmare came true. Currently, the world might be applauding the cricketer for his form but there was a time when his entire world came down. Dinesh Karthik who made his debut in Indian cricket team at the age of 22 years in 2004, married his childhood best friend Nikita Vanjara in 2007.

However, it was not a love marriage. Nikita and Dinesh’s father were friend and just like old Bollywood movie they decided to turn their friendship into something more. But fate had something else stored for them. Dinesh Karthik had to divorce his wife after she cheated on him with his best friend Murli Vijay. They were official separated in 2007, when she was pregnant with Vijay’s child.

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Having betrayed so badly, the cricketer was devastated and even fell out of form for a while. However, being blessed with a real good friend, cricketer Abhishek Nayar, who held DK get back in form. Nayar travelled with DK and both sweated in gym-ground and won back their place in the Indian squad. Dinesh had a good run in the ODI as well and Indian Premiere League but his life turned upside down once again, but this time for the right reasons.

After being single for too long Dinesh Karthik got attracted to Indian Squad player Dipika Pallikal, who became his lucky charm. For those who don’t know Dipika Pallikal is the first Indian to break into the top 10 of World squash ranking (PSA). She also won the prestigious Arjuna Award at the age of 21 and later she also received the Padma Shree Award in 2014. She also scripted history by winning India’s first-ever gold at the Commonwealth Games 2014.

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Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal used to train at the same gym however they never collided because the squash player likes to train early in the morning at 6. Dinesh chased Dipika for a while until she eventually agreed to meet him only once, as Dipika never liked cricketer as she believed that they take away all the limelight from other sports as well.

But She did find Dinesh interesting and ended up talking to him for four hours in the first meet. Later the same year, they got engaged and later in 2015, they got married in just the presence of their families and friends.

https://www.instagram.com/p/7xSEsItX4I/

Ever since Karthik has also improved his game a lot. The couple also owns a luxurious house in Chennai and are neighbour to South superstar Rajnikanth. And this year Dinesh Karthik was again bought by RCB for 5.5 crores. DK was at his best and came like a storm by giving jitters to death overs bowlers in IPL 2022. He was not out for 10 times in 16 innings and was one of the major reasons why RCB could qualify for the play-offs.

The couple were blessed with twins, Kabir and Zain in October 2021 and in just six months of their birth, Dipika made a comeback in international squash and once again scripted history by winning the gold medal in 2012. However, sadly after achieving so much the athlete is only known as the wife of cricketer Dinesh Karthik.

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Cricket news

India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to win Asian Games cricket gold

India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final to retain the gold medal in the competition.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 3, 2026

APNLive Desk

India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s cricket final at the Asian Games 2026 on Saturday to retain the gold medal.

India posted 211 for six after being sent in to bat, before restricting Pakistan to 192 for six in their 20 overs. The victory gave India their second successive Asian Games gold medal in men’s cricket.

India post 211 in final

India’s batting was led by Abhishek Sharma, who scored 61 off 28 balls, while Tilak Varma contributed 51 off 22 balls.

The two batters provided the momentum as India reached 211 for six from their 20 overs.

India captain Shreyas Iyer had won the toss and elected to bat first in the final.

Pakistan fall 19 runs short

Pakistan’s chase was anchored by Hasan Nawaz, who made 96 from 51 balls. Saim Ayub added 29 from 22 balls, but Pakistan finished on 192 for six after 20 overs.

India’s Axar Patel and Washington Sundar each took two wickets as Pakistan fell short of the target.

The result secured the gold medal for India, while Pakistan finished with silver. Sri Lanka won the bronze medal after defeating Bangladesh in the bronze-medal match.

India retain Asian Games cricket title

The victory marked India’s second consecutive men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games. India had also won the men’s cricket gold at the Hangzhou edition.

India’s victory over Pakistan also completed a gold-medal double for the country in cricket at the 2026 Asian Games, after the women’s team won the women’s cricket final earlier in the competition.

Cricket news

Jasprit Bumrah becomes first Indian to play T20Is in 13 countries

Jasprit Bumrah became the first Indian to play T20I cricket in 13 different countries after featuring against Sri Lanka in Japan.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

APNLive Desk

Jasprit Bumrah added another milestone to his international career on Thursday after taking the field for India against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket semifinal in Japan.

Bumrah’s appearance at Nishin made him the first Indian to play T20I cricket in 13 different countries, according to the report. He moved ahead of former India captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have each played T20Is in 12 countries.

Bumrah’s 13-country T20I record

Before playing in Japan, Bumrah had represented India in T20Is in 12 other countries — India, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the United States, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

His appearance in Japan took the tally to 13. Kohli, Rohit and Bhuvneshwar had played in all of those countries except Japan, leaving Bumrah alone at the top of the list.

Kohli and Rohit cannot add to their totals as both have retired from T20I cricket, according to the source.

Bumrah shines against Sri Lanka

Bumrah also made an immediate impact in his first T20I appearance in Japan. He claimed two wickets in his opening over against Sri Lanka and finished with figures of 2/7 in two overs.

India went on to dismiss Sri Lanka for 45 in 9.5 overs and won the semifinal by 124 runs to book a place in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final.

The result set up an India-Pakistan gold-medal clash, scheduled for October 3.

Jasprit Bumrah has become the first Indian to play T20I cricket in 13 different countries. His appearance against Sri Lanka in Japan took him past Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have played T20Is in 12 countries each.

Cricket news

India beat West Indies by 8 wickets, Gill hits record 223

Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 223 and Rohit Sharma’s 101 helped India chase 406 against West Indies and win the second ODI by eight wickets in Guwahati.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

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India produced a remarkable batting performance to defeat West Indies by eight wickets in the second ODI in Guwahati, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

West Indies posted 405 for 7 in their 50 overs after centuries from John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo. India then produced an emphatic response, reaching 406 for 2 in just 43.3 overs.

Shubman Gill led the chase with an unbeaten 223, while Rohit Sharma provided strong support with a century.

Gill’s record-breaking double century

Gill remained unbeaten on 223 from 133 balls and completed his double century in 117 deliveries.

His innings made him the first batter to score an ODI double century in 117 balls, according to the report. His unbeaten 223 was also recorded as the highest ODI score by an Indian captain and the highest score by an Indian in an ODI chase.

Gill’s innings contained a combination of boundaries and sustained attacking batting as India comfortably reached the target set by West Indies.

Rohit Sharma scores 101

Rohit Sharma also produced a century during India’s chase, scoring 101 from 75 balls.

The innings also saw Rohit reach the milestone of 12,000 ODI runs. He became the third Indian batter to reach the landmark after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli contributed 29 runs before being dismissed during the chase.

West Indies post 405

Earlier, West Indies put up a huge total of 405 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs.

John Campbell scored 101, while Shai Hope made 104. Amir Jangoo also struck a century, scoring 114.

Despite the three centuries, West Indies could not defend the total as India’s top order produced a dominant chase.

India take 2-0 series lead

India completed the chase in 43.3 overs, finishing on 406 for 2 and securing an eight-wicket victory.

The result gives India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, with the second match producing a record-breaking individual performance from captain Shubman Gill.