'Want to hug him tight': Shikhar Dhawan says he hasn't spoken to his son Zoravar in 5-6 months

Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan recently revealed that he has not been able to meet his son Zoravar in the last five to six months. Dhawan also spoke about his life after he was granted a divorce from his wife, Aesha Mukherji, on the grounds of mental cruelty. In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Dhawan spoke about his relationship with his son and also said that he wanted to give him all the paternal love a child deserves.

Dhawan spoke about the time when he could meet his son and how it was limited while he was on the tour of Australia. “When I used to visit my son in Australia for a week, he used to meet me only for a few hours. I want to spend quality time with him, want him to sleep in my arms, I want to hug him tight, give him the father’s love he deserves. I haven’t had a word with him for the last 5-6 months,” Dhawan said during the interaction.

“I write messages to him everyday, I don’t know whether he is receiving it – I am a father & I am doing the duty, I miss him, I feel sad but I have learned to live with it. I’m still positive and sending love to my son. I want him to be happy, hopefully one day if God wants, he’ll be back with me,” Dhawan added.

Dhawan had married Aesha Mukherjee in 2012. Aesha, who had two daughters from her previous marriage, announced divorce from Dhawan in a social media post in 2021. She continued to live in Australia owing to her commitments, and hence, Dhawan was separated from their son Zoravar. The court took cognisance of the cricketer’s emotional distress caused by the separation from his child as well as the mental distress brought on by the circumstances.

Despite the divorce, Dhawan was given mandatory visitation rights. In its judgment, the Delhi court held that Aesha had subjected Dhawan to mental agony by compelling him to live separately from his son for years.

As far as his cricketing career is concerned, Dhawan last played for India in December 2022, in an ODI against Bangladesh. Dhawan is now set to lead Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.