Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and his girlfriend Sophie Shine are presently basking in the sun in the Maldives to celebrate Sophie turning 32. To commemorate the special day, Shikhar shared a heartfelt note for Sophie on social media. The first photo in the post showed the couple sitting beside each other on a deck overlooking the turquoise sea. That photo was followed by a photo of them standing on a net and posing together. Accompanying the photos, Shikhar penned: "Happy Birthday My Heart @sophieshine93." Sophie also took to social media to share some glimpses of their birthday getaway. In Sophie's pictures, she wore a dark brown bikini top alongside off-white linen pants and a sun hat. Her caption said, "Woke up in paradise on my birthday, here's to 32!" The Maldives is a great romantic getaway for Shikhar and Sophie. With its beautiful water villas, secluded beaches and stunning sea views, there are many of options for couples looking for relaxation and luxury. It is the ideal location for this newly public couple, with lazy mornings, sun-drenched afternoons and romantic sunsets! Not long ago, Shikhar had shared a funny reel with Sophie on Instagram, in which they recreated a popular scene from the 1997 Hindi film Judaai, with them imitating Upasana Singh's famous "Abba Dabba Jabba" action. The caption was, "Pata nahi kaunsi hindi seekh ke aa gayi ye." Sophie Shine, who hails from Ireland but is based in Abu Dhabi, made their relationship public when she posted a picture with Shikhar on Instagram and captioned it, "My ❤️." Reports suggest that Sophie and Shikhar met in Dubai a few years ago and have become good friends since then. Sophie has been seen with Shikhar, supporting him at the cricket matches that he participates in and fans on social media have displayed their approval of the relationship. Shikhar is in a new phase of life after separating from Aesha Mukherji in 2023, meaning a new start, both personally and romantically.
1. Shikhar Dhawan is a former Indian cricketer, renowned for his explosive batting and consistency in limited-overs cricket. Shikhar Dhawan was born in Delhi on December 5, 1985, and made his international debut in 2010, playing as an opener for the Indian team. Dhawan quickly became a significant player for the Indian team, and his aggressive starts soon became a dominant force in limited-overs formats. He's known for being consistently at the top of the run charts in ICC tournaments, especially the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, where he ended as the highest run-scorer. Known as 'Gabbar' and sporting his recognizable mustache, Dhawan played with terrific on-field persona. Dhawan retiring from international cricket and IPL cricket in 2024. Dhawan began his business career with his partnership role at DaOne Group, and owns the Legends League Cricket team South Delhi Superstars. Dhawan has left an impression on the world, and he is permanently unlisted as he scored over 10,000 Runs in international cricket.
2. Sophie Shine is an Irish professional who leads dual careers in corporate consulting and wellness coaching. She was born in Limerick, Ireland, and has a Marketing and Management degree from Limerick Institute of Technology. Sophie is currently Second Vice President at Northern Trust Corporation in Abu Dhabi. Sophie is also a certified face fitness instructor and is a medical psychologist with more than 11 years in her field. Her online course called "Mindful Face Fitness", has gained over 110,000 paying members worldwide, showing participants how to rejuvenate their face naturally. She gained public attention in 2024 when it was revealed that she was romantically linked with former Indian cricketer, Shikhar Dhawan, which he confirmed as being true in 2025.
4. The first image of Shikhar Dhawan's Instagram post was a cozy moment with the couple sitting together on the wooden deck overlooking the turquoise ocean, underlining the warmth and love from the duo. This idyllic image captured the calm, romantic environment of their Maldives trip. The next slide of the post was a moment of joy when Shikhar and Sophie excitedly posed standing on a net above the transparent blue water, emphasizing the festive and adventurous nature of the occasion. In the caption, Shikhar expressed his affection with, "Happy Birthday My Heart @sophieshine93." His words represented the bond of emotion that this couple shared, and it felt like much more than only a birthday; it was a celebration of their love.
5. Sophie Shine also posted some photos on Instagram giving a glimpse of her birthday trip to the Maldives. She was glowing in the images, wearing a chic dark brown bikini top and breezy off-white linen pants which made for the ultimate beach look. Adding to the tropical vibe, she wore a stylish sun hat. The stunning setting with clear blue waters and sunny skies only added to how amazing the photos are. In the caption, she wrote, "Woke up in paradise on my birthday, here's to 32!" and her post encapsulated how wonderful the beginning to her special day was and how lovely it must be to celebrate in a dreamy location like her included in her Instagram photos.
6. Shikhar Dhawan and Sophie Shine couldn't have chosen a better destination for their romantic getaway than the Maldives. Known for its stunning natural beauty, the island paradise offers virtually all that anyone could imagine -- lavish water villas, secluded private beaches, and views that seem infinite of the bright blue ocean. The whole vibe of the Maldives is perfect for romance; from lazy, relaxed mornings to sunny afternoons and intimate sunsets that turn golden, you can't help but create special memories among the breathtaking moments. The Maldives was an excellent choice for Shikhar and Sophie, who were just beginning to share their relationship publicly. It had both a chilled-out vibe and upscale indulgences. And it provided the perfect environment to be authentic as a couple, spend time together to develop their relationship, and create memories in a place that feels as romantic as their love story.
7. Shikhar Dhawan had his fans in stitches earlier with a funny reel video he shared of himself, along with his girlfriend, Sophie Shine, on Instagram. In the hilarious video, the couple acted out a funny moment from the 1997 Bollywood film Judaai. The couple donned the couple’s “Abba Dabba Jabba” character made famous by actress Upasana Singh, which is still a fan-favorite clip from the movie because of how exaggerated her expressions were and how quirky her speech was. The couple’s humorous image and banter brought laughter for everybody involved. It also showcased how comfortable they both are with each other and the importance of sharing laughter when two people develop a romantic relationship, and hopefully, they will continue developing throughout their relationship. The video itself gave their fans a glimpse into their playful sides and the couple's willingness to engage in spontaneous moments of fun and amusement together, something that is important for every person and couple along the journey of romance.
8. Since they announced their relationship, Sophie Shine has been publicly seen accompanying Shikhar Dhawan as she supports him at various cricket matches in the stands. Her involvement at these events have given fans more of an insight into their relationship together and has developed a new accord with Shikhar's public persona construct. The openly stated relationship has been met with warmth and interest by fans across social media platforms. Many other admirers have expressed their happiness and sent congratulatory messages during this time, celebrating their love and wishing them well for the future. The positive response reflects how much fans want to see the personal life of their favorite sporting hero, and also how much they welcome Sophie in the public life of Shikhar, embracing their relationship with somewhat genuine affection and support.
9. This new chapter in Shikhar Dhawan’s personal life follows his divorce from Aesha Mukherji in 2023, marking a significant fresh start for the cricketer. After the end of his previous marriage, Shikhar has been moving forward, embracing new beginnings both personally and emotionally. His relationship with Sophie Shine represents a hopeful and positive turn, allowing him to rebuild and find happiness again. The fresh start reflects his resilience and readiness to open a new door in life, focusing on love and companionship. Fans and well-wishers have shown support for Shikhar as he navigates this new phase, appreciating his courage to embrace change and look ahead with optimism toward the future.
10. Sophie Shine, Shikhar Dhawan's girlfriend, is an Irish professional who now resides in Abu Dhabi. Sophie made their relationship public recently with a picture of herself and Shikhar on Instagram with the caption "My ❤️," which captured the attention of many fans and followers. Sophie and Shikhar are believed to have met several years ago in Dubai, and from there their relationship blossomed and deepened. Even though Sophie and Shikhar seem to keep their personal life private, their enthusiastic posts on social media shed light on how well they get along as a couple. From acquaintances to partners, their relationship has progressed, indicating a level of love and understanding for each other, and this love continues to grow as they create special memories together.
