Age No Bar, Love Knows No Boundaries: Arjun Tendulkar Gets Engaged to Saaniya Chandhok

Arjun Tendulkar, India’s young left-arm pacer and son of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, has announced his engagement to Saaniya Chandhok, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur and animal welfare advocate. While the news delighted fans, what caught wider attention was that Saaniya is older than Arjun. The pairing has sparked conversations about changing relationship norms in India, especially in the cricketing world where tradition and public opinion often weigh heavily.

The confirmation of the engagement came from the Master Blaster himself, after days of speculation across social media regarding Arjun’s reported engagement to Saaniya Chandok. While no formal public announcement had been made earlier, fans had picked up on subtle online clues and media reports, which hinted at a private ceremony attended by close family and friends.

This isn’t new in the Tendulkar family. Back in 1995, Sachin married Dr. Anjali Mehta, a well-known pediatrician who is six years older than him. Their strong and balanced partnership is often credited as being Sachin’s biggest support system throughout his demanding career. With both father and son choosing older life partners, the message is clear: happiness and compatibility matter more than age.

Sociologists see this as part of a wider shift. Prof. Abha Chauhan from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh explains, “The success of marriages where the wife is older depends more on trust and shared goals than the age gap itself.” Dr. Sudha Khokhate of Bangalore University adds, “Such unions challenge long-standing gender norms, but acceptance has grown. When emotional harmony exists, age becomes irrelevant.”

Several other cricketers too have taken similar paths. Virat Kohli is younger than Anushka Sharma by six months, Jasprit Bumrah is two years younger than Sanjana Ganesan, Shivam Dube married Anjum Khan who is six years older, Robin Uthappa’s wife Sheethal Goutham is four years senior, and Anil Kumble is younger than Chethana Ramatheertha by two years. Each of these examples shows that love in cricketing circles is increasingly defined by connection rather than convention.

Arjun’s engagement is more than just a personal milestone. It reflects a slow but steady change in how relationships are viewed in India. From Sachin to Arjun, the Tendulkars remind us that respect, trust, and shared dreams outweigh the numbers on a birth certificate.