From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, Five Times Cricketers Prioritised Family Over Cricket for the Birth of Their Children

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Rohit Sharma recently took a paternity break for the birth of his second child, a baby boy, on November 15, missing the training sessions in Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to be with his wife, Ritika Sajdeh.

Rohit’s decision to prioritise family commitments over attending matches highlighted the importance of family over career, even during critical series preparations. Balancing a demanding cricketing schedule with family responsibilities is a significant challenge for players.

Here’s a look at five cricketers who recently chose to step away from the field to embrace fatherhood:

1. Jos Buttler (2024)

England’s limited-overs captain, Jos Buttler, left the squad during the third T20I against Pakistan in May 2024 to attend the birth of his third child. The versatile batter’s absence was covered by Moeen Ali, who captained England to secure a series victory in Cardiff.

2. Pat Cummins (2024)

Australian skipper Pat Cummins has hinted at missing the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka in early 2025 for the birth of his second child. Cummins, known for balancing cricket and family, expressed his intent to spend more time with his growing family after missing key moments during the birth of his first son, Albie.

3. Jasprit Bumrah (2023)

Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah celebrated the arrival of his first child, Angad, in September 2023. Bumrah left the Asia Cup midway to attend the birth, later rejoining the team during the Super Four stage. His absence was managed effectively by Team India, but Bumrah’s prioritisation of family over cricket earned praise from fans.

4. Virat Kohli (2023, 2021)

Virat Kohli has twice chosen family over cricket. In January 2021, he missed three Tests in the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia to welcome his first child, Vamika, with his wife, Anushka Sharma. Kohli’s second paternity leave came in February 2024, when he skipped England’s Test series to welcome his son Akaay in London, showing his commitment to family life.

5. Rohit Sharma (2018)

Rohit Sharma’s decision to skip the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 preparations is not the first time that the India team captain has prioritised family commitments over cricket. The batter missed the fourth and final Test against Australia in Sydney during the 2018-19 series to be with his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, for the birth of their first child. On December 30, 2018, the couple welcomed a baby girl, Samaira.