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Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic have announced their separation after four years of marriage. On July 18, 2024, both took to their social media platforms to share their mutual decision to part ways. This announcement came a day after Natasa left for Serbia with their son, Agastya Pandya.
“After four years together, we have decided to mutually part ways,” their post read. “We tried our best and gave it our all, but we believe this is in the best interest for both of us. This was a tough decision, given the joy, mutual respect, and companionship we shared as we built our family.”
The couple has stressed their continued dedication to co-parenting their son, Agastya, who will remain the central focus of their lives. They have requested privacy during this challenging time to ensure Agastya’s well-being.
Indications of Trouble
Although the couple did not provide specific reasons for their separation, rumors of issues in their relationship had been circulating for several months. Natasa’s absence from the 2024 IPL, where she was usually a constant presence supporting Pandya, was notable. Additionally, her social media activities suggested growing distance; she removed Pandya’s surname from her Instagram profile and stopped posting about him on special occasions.
Despite these signs, Natasa maintained good relations with Pandya’s family, including his brother Krunal Pandya and his wife, Pankhuri Sharma. She even publicly congratulated them on the birth of their second child, indicating that family ties were still strong.
Reflecting on Their Journey
In a 2020 interview with Crickettimes.com, Pandya revealed that when he first met Natasa, she had no idea who he was. Describing their meeting and engagement as spontaneous and deeply personal, Pandya shared this story with cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle.
“I got her (Natasa) by talking. She saw someone in a hat at a place where I met her, wearing a hat, a chain, a watch, at 1 am. So she thought he is ‘alag prakaar ka aadmi aaya (different kind of person came)’. That is when I started talking to her, started knowing each other. Then, we started dating. Then got engaged on December 31,” Hardik said.
When asked if Natasa knew about him or was a fan, he replied, “She had no idea who I was.”
Moving Forward
As Hardik and Natasa navigate this new phase of their lives, their primary focus remains on their son, Agastya. Their commitment to co-parenting and ensuring his well-being highlights their dedication to providing a stable and loving environment for him, despite their separation.
Stay tuned for more updates as we delve deeper into the second half of this story.
The Couple’s Journey and Recent Developments
The couple’s relationship blossomed quickly, culminating in a romantic proposal on a yacht in December 2019 and a beautiful wedding in May 2020, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their son, Agastya, was born in July 2020, further solidifying their bond.
In 2023, Hardik and Natasa renewed their vows in a lavish ceremony in Udaipur, surrounded by close friends and family. Despite this grand gesture, their relationship faced difficulties that ultimately led to their separation.
Expressing Admiration and Patience
In a 2020 video during their extravagant Udaipur wedding, Pandya expressed his admiration for Natasa and acknowledged the patience required to navigate their relationship. “The way she gave me warmth, I started getting more solutions because she taught me how to find solutions. That learning in my love life taught me to achieve more and more in life. I also became more patient because it takes a lot of patience to live with Natasa,” he told the paparazzi.
Previous Relationships
Before their marriage, both Pandya and Stankovic had previous romantic involvements. Pandya was rumoured to have dated several Bollywood actresses, including Urvashi Rautela and Elli AvrRam. Stankovic had a well-known relationship with actor Aly Goni, with whom she appeared on the reality show Nach Baliye.
Online Backlash
Following their separation announcement, Natasa faced a barrage of negative comments online. Many users expressed disbelief and harsh judgments, questioning her acknowledgment of Pandya’s value and criticising the financial aspects of their split.
Despite the negativity, Pandya and Stankovic have decided to prioritise their son and maintain a respectful co-parenting relationship. Their separation marks the end of a chapter, but their commitment to Agastya’s well-being remains strong.
Impact on Pandya’s Career
This personal upheaval coincides with significant changes in Pandya’s professional life. Recently, Pandya lost his captaincy of India’s T20I team to Suryakumar Yadav, as detailed in our previous blogs. This transition, coupled with the challenges in his personal life, marks a tumultuous period for the cricket star.
Punters at Lotus365 often keep a tab on sportsmen’s personal lives. Things happening outside the field often have a positive / negative impact on the performance of a player. One of the most famous examples is of Sachin Tendulkar. In the 2003 World Cup, he lost his father during the group stages of the world cup. Everyone expected him to miss the rest of the world cup. But he came back stronger and scored a century in the very first game after his comeback which led to his famous celebration of pointing the bat towards the sky.
