Mumbai, March 19 (NationPress) The Bombay High Court has recently approved a request from cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his choreographer spouse Dhanashree Verma to waive the mandatory cooling-off period in their ongoing mutual consent divorce proceedings.

A bench led by Justice Madhav Jamdar instructed the family court to swiftly address the divorce petition on Thursday, taking into account Chahal's upcoming participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The leg-spinner has been acquired by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a whopping Rs 18 crore during the IPL 2025 auction.

The court acknowledged that the couple has been living separately for over two and a half years and has fulfilled the consent terms concerning alimony that were agreed upon during mediation.

According to Hindu law, couples who have been living apart for a year or more may apply for a mutual consent divorce. However, Section 13B(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act mandates a minimum six-month cooling-off period from the date of filing the divorce petition to allow time for reconciliation.

In a landmark 2017 ruling, the Supreme Court stated that this six-month cooling-off period is not compulsory and can be waived if the court determines that there is no chance of the couple resuming cohabitation.

Dhanashree and Chahal became engaged in 2020 and tied the knot in December of the same year in a private ceremony in Gurugram.

The 28-year-old dancer, Dhanashree, is celebrated for her unique dance performances that combine traditional Indian dance with modern styles. Recently, Chahal was seen among the audience, sitting next to social media influencer RJ Mahvash during the Champions Trophy Final. This was not the first time they were rumored to be linked; a viral photo of RJ Mahvash with Chahal from a Christmas gathering circulated last December.

In response, the social media personality clarified on Instagram, stating, "There have been many articles and rumors online. It’s amusing how unfounded these claims are. Just because you are seen with someone of the opposite sex does not mean you're dating. What year are we in? How many people are dating now?"

She added, "I’ve been quiet for a couple of days, but I refuse to let PR teams drag my name into this to distract from others’ issues. Let everyone enjoy peace with their family and friends during challenging times."

Chahal's journey in the IPL, which includes over 160 matches, has been extraordinary. He holds the record for the most wickets in IPL history with 205, surpassing Dwayne Bravo's previous record of 183 during the 2023 season. His impressive career average of 22.44 and an economy rate of 7.8 highlight his ability to excel in wicket-taking while maintaining tight bowling, a rare combination in the T20 format.

His peak moment came in 2022 when he received the Purple Cap while playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR), achieving a remarkable 27 wickets that season. In the 2024 season, he became the first bowler in IPL history to cross the 200-wicket mark. Chahal's statistics include six four-wicket hauls, one five-wicket haul, and a hat-trick. From 2014 to 2021, he was the leading spinner for Royal Challengers Bangalore, taking 139 wickets across 113 matches — a record still unmatched in the franchise's history. Despite his remarkable performance, RCB made the unexpected choice not to retain him prior to the 2022 mega auction. Chahal's comeback after leaving RCB has been impressive, as he has secured 66 wickets while representing RR in the last three seasons.