Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal made headlines during the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai, but not for his performance on the field. Instead, his presence in the stands with a mystery woman caught the attention of fans and social media users.

The high-stakes final saw New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner winning the toss and opting to bat first. This marked India’s 15th consecutive toss loss in ODI cricket, including 12 under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Despite this setback, India’s bowlers performed exceptionally well, restricting the Blackcaps to 251/7 in 50 overs. Spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav led the attack, each claiming two wickets, while Daryl Mitchell was the top scorer for New Zealand with 63 runs.

Chahal’s appearance with RJ Mahvash sparks intrigue

While fans were engrossed in the final match, Chahal’s presence with a woman in the stands turned heads. The mystery woman was later identified as Mahvash, a well-known radio jockey. The sighting comes amid Chahal’s ongoing divorce proceedings with his wife, Dhanashree Verma.

For months, speculations about their separation had circulated online, and reports confirmed last week that the couple had officially filed for divorce. Their legal proceedings are currently underway at the Bandra Family Court, where both were reportedly present for hearings. However, Dhanashree’s lawyer, Aditi Mohan, dismissed several media claims, urging for responsible reporting and fact-checking.

Dhanashree’s family denies alimony rumors

Amid the divorce news, certain media reports suggested that Dhanashree had demanded ₹60 crore as alimony. However, her family issued a statement strongly refuting these claims, calling them baseless and urging media outlets to refrain from spreading misinformation.

“We are deeply outraged by the false claims regarding the alimony figure. No such demand was made, and such misinformation only adds unnecessary speculation. We request media houses to respect privacy and verify facts before reporting,” the statement read.

Chahal set to play for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025

On the professional front, Chahal is gearing up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The seasoned spinner was signed by Punjab Kings for a massive ₹18 crore during the IPL mega auction in December 2024.

India’s Champions Trophy 2025 triumph was marked by jubilant celebrations, but a heartfelt moment between Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami’s mother has touched the hearts of millions. Following India’s emphatic four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final at Dubai, Kohli’s warm gesture of touching Shami’s mother’s feet as a mark of respect has gone viral on social media.

In a video captured by the official broadcast, Kohli was seen bowing down to touch the feet of Mohammed Shami’s mother, a traditional Indian gesture to show respect. The heartwarming interaction, followed by smiles and a photograph with Shami’s family, has been widely appreciated by fans, highlighting the strong camaraderie within the Indian cricket team.

Ahead of the tournament, both Kohli, 36, and Shami, 34, had their fair share of scrutiny, but they silenced critics with stellar performances when it mattered the most.

Kohli emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer in the tournament and the fifth overall. His crucial contributions included a century against Pakistan in the group stage and a match-winning 84-run knock in the semi-final against Australia. This victory added another feather to Kohli’s cap, making it his fourth major ICC title and second Champions Trophy win.

Shami, on the other hand, overcame injury setbacks to make a remarkable return. With Jasprit Bumrah missing from the squad, Shami led India’s pace attack and delivered under pressure. His outstanding performances included a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh, three wickets in the semi-final against Australia, and another crucial scalp in the final. He finished as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakravarthy.

Following the heartbreak of the 2023 World Cup final, India has bounced back in remarkable fashion, clinching two ICC trophies in succession— the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025. With an impressive record of 23 wins in their last 24 ICC matches, India has reaffirmed its dominance on the global stage.

India’s veteran opener and skipper, Rohit Sharma, has ended all speculations regarding his ODI future after leading India to a historic victory in the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. Amid widespread rumors of his possible retirement, Rohit, who will turn 38 in two months, made it clear that he has no plans to step away from the format.

“I am not going to retire from this format. Just to make sure no rumours are spread moving forward. Koi future plan hai nahi, jo chal raha hai chalega (there is no future plan, whatever is going on will continue as it is),” Rohit stated in the post-match press conference.

His statement comes at a crucial time as India’s next major ODI tournament is the 2027 ODI World Cup, and many had speculated that this Champions Trophy could be his last outing in the 50-over format.

Rohit’s stellar performance in the final

Leading from the front, Rohit delivered a match-winning knock of 76 off 83 balls, playing a crucial role in India’s successful chase of 252 runs in the final held in Dubai. He attacked the New Zealand bowlers aggressively from the very first ball, smashing seven fours and three sixes, finishing with a strike rate of 91.56.

This innings marked his first-ever half-century in an ICC event final, adding another milestone to his illustrious career. With this knock, Rohit has now accumulated 322 runs in nine ICC tournament finals, averaging 32.20.

Joins elite list of captains in ICC Champions Trophy finals

With his half-century, Rohit Sharma joined an elite group of captains who have scored 50-plus runs in an ICC Champions Trophy final. The list includes:

• Sourav Ganguly (117 vs New Zealand, ICC Knockout 2000 final)
• Sanath Jayasuriya (74 vs India, ICC Champions Trophy 2002 final)
• Hansie Cronje (61* vs West Indies, ICC Knockout 1998 final)

Additionally, 76 is now his highest score in any ODI final, surpassing his previous best of 66 against Australia in the Commonwealth Bank Series final 2008 at the SCG.

Rohit also praised the hunger and experience in the Indian squad, acknowledging the contributions of seasoned players and how it positively impacts the younger cricketers.

“There is a lot of hunger even in guys who have played a lot of cricket, and it rubs down on even the younger players. We have five to six players who are real stalwarts. It makes the job easier for all of us,” he added.

With no immediate plans of retirement, fans can expect Rohit Sharma to continue leading India in ODIs, possibly steering the team towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.