Over the years, the worlds of cricket and entertainment have often overlapped, sometimes leading to headlines driven by statements and claims made by actresses or models. While none of these allegations were ever legally established, they generated widespread discussion on social media and in the press.
Here are five such instances that made news:
1. Payal Ghosh and Riyan Parag
Actress Payal Ghosh once claimed that young Indian cricketer Riyan Parag had sent her inappropriate messages on social media. The matter quickly gained traction online, prompting Parag to deny the allegations and call them baseless. The issue eventually died down without any legal follow-up.
2. Nupur Mehta and Sourav Ganguly (Text Message Controversy)
During the mid-2000s, model Nupur Mehta alleged she had a close personal relationship with former India captain Sourav Ganguly, claiming frequent communication between them. Ganguly strongly denied the claims, stating he barely knew her. The controversy became one of Indian cricket’s most talked-about off-field episodes at the time.
3. Laxmi Rai and MS Dhoni
South Indian actress Laxmi Rai publicly stated that she was in a relationship with former India captain MS Dhoni for a brief period and hinted at emotional involvement. Dhoni never commented in detail on the matter, choosing to maintain silence and focus on his cricketing career.
4. Poonam Pandey and Multiple Cricketers
Model and actress Poonam Pandey has, on various occasions, claimed that several cricketers attempted to approach or flirt with her during IPL seasons. While she never named individuals in some cases, her remarks sparked debate over celebrity culture and boundaries.
5. Khushi Mukherjee and Suryakumar Yadav
Actress Khushi Mukherjee recently made comments suggesting a personal equation with Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav, which later escalated into a controversy. She subsequently issued a clarification, stating that they were only friends and that her remarks were misunderstood. The incident drew strong reactions on social media.
