India all-rounder Hardik Pandya announced his separation from wife Natasa Stankovic on Thursday bringing their four-year marriage to an end.
The Mumbai Indians captain took to Instagram to confirm what fans had been speculating on social media for months now.
“After four years of being together, Natasa and I have decided to mutually part ways. We tried out best and gave it our all, and we believe this is in the best interest for the both of us,” read the post on Pandya’s account which had the comments section disabled and gathered nearly half a million likes in just 15 minutes.
“This was a tough decision for us to make, given the joy, mutual respect and companionship we enjoyed together and as we grew a family,” the post further read.
The post also made mention of their son Agastya as well as the fact that both Hardik and Natasa will be co-parenting him going forward.
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View All“We are blessed Agastya, who will continue to be at the centre of both our lives and we will co-parent to ensure that we give him everything that we can for his happiness.
“We sincerely request your support and understanding to give us the privacy during this difficult and sensitive time," the post, signed by Pandya and his now ex-wife, further read.
Rumours of the two heading for a split began after the Serbian actor and model had dropped the surname ‘Pandya’ from her Instagram handle, and was also not seen in any of the IPL matches involving the all-rounder in his maiden season as MI captain. Stankovic had also hidden pictures of their wedding on her account, though she would restore them later.
What further added fuel to the fire was Stankovic not acknowledging Pandya’s heroics in the T20 World Cup, especially in the final against South Africa in which he bowled a heroic final over that sealed a thrilling seven-run victory for India.
Hardik and Natasa had tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2020, the same year in which son Agastya was born. The two would later renew their vows in a grand ceremony in Udaipur in February 2023.