Shikhar Dhawan, the experienced Indian cricket opener, has taken responsibility for the failure of his marriage with Melbourne-based amateur kickboxer Aesha Mukerji. Despite being aware of the red flags, Dhawan fell in love with Mukerji, who was 12 years older and had two daughters from her previous marriage. However, the couple separated in September 2021. In a candid interview, Dhawan acknowledged his shortcomings in the relationship and how the experience has made him wiser. He refrained from blaming anyone for the breakdown of the marriage. He said:
“I failed because the final decision is the person’s own. I don’t point fingers at others. I failed because I was not aware of that field. The things I talk about cricket today, I wouldn’t have been aware of the same 20 years back. It comes with experience.”
Shikhar Dhawan expressed confidence that he will be able to recognize any red flags if he decides to get married again in the future, thanks to the lessons he learned from his failed marriage. He said:
“Right now my divorce case is going on. Tomorrow, if I want to marry again, I will be much more wiser in that field. I’ll know what kind of girl I need; someone whom I can spend my life with. When I was 26-27 and I was continuously playing, I was not in any relationship. I used to have fun, but was never in a relationship.
“So, when I fell in love, I couldn’t see the red flags. But today, if I fall in love, I will be able to see those red flags. So, if I see those red flags, I will walk out. If not, I will carry on.”
Dhawan and Mukerji have a son named Zoravar, born in December 2014.
Shikhar Dhawan advises youngsters not to rush into emotional decisions in relationships.
Based on his experience, Shikhar Dhawan advises young people in relationships to take their time and not rush into marriage, emphasizing the importance of truly knowing their partner before making a lifelong commitment. Shikhar Dhawan explained:
“Youngsters, when they get into relationships, they need to experience it. That’s important. They should not take an emotional decision in haste and get married. Spend a couple of years with the person and see whether your cultures match and whether you enjoy each others’ company.
“It’s also like a match; some might need 4-5 relationships, others might take 8-9 to figure things out. There is nothing bad in that. You will learn from it, and when you take a decision on marriage, you will have some experience.”
The upcoming edition of IPL 2023 will see Dhawan leading Punjab Kings as the opener.