As former Indian cricketer Murali Vijay celebrates his 42nd birthday on April 1, 2025, his journey has been filled with both professional achievements and personal controversies that have grabbed public attention.
Vijay, who debuted internationally in 2010, earned acclaim in domestic cricket with Tamil Nadu and IPL with Chennai Super Kings. However, his personal life, particularly his relationship with Dinesh Karthik's ex-wife, Nikita Vanzara, overshadowed his cricketing career in the public eye.
Murali Vijay and Dinesh Karthik had once shared a close friendship. But their bond fell apart when Vijay fell in love with Nikita, who was married to Karthik at the time. This dramatic shift in their relationship led to the breakdown of their friendship. The couple grew closer during the IPL matches, and their romantic relationship quickly developed, causing shockwaves in both cricketing and social circles.
Dinesh Karthik was deeply affected by this betrayal, leading to a period of depression that impacted his career. Fortunately, with the support of friends, Karthik managed to overcome his struggles and returned to the Indian cricket team, ultimately finding happiness with his wife, squash player Deepika Pallikal.
Meanwhile, Murali Vijay and Nikita married in 2012, shortly after her divorce from Karthik. However, this union brought Vijay a reputation of a "villain" in the eyes of cricket fans, who trolled him heavily on social media. Despite these personal challenges, Vijay’s career continued, but the controversies may have contributed to his limited success in One-Day and T20 formats.
Throughout his Test career, Vijay amassed 3982 runs in 61 matches, with a respectable average of 38, though his ODI record stood at just 331 runs in 17 matches.
Vijay’s story serves as a reminder that personal lives often intersect with professional careers in the public eye, leaving a lasting impression. While the matter of his past has since calmed down, it still remains a significant chapter in both his and Karthik’s life stories.
