The cricketing world and the political corridors of Uttar Pradesh converged in a spectacular display of celebration as India’s star spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, hosted his wedding reception in Lucknow. Fresh off the historic high of India’s back-to-back T20 World Cup triumphs, the chinaman bowler traded his blue jersey for a dapper black suit to celebrate his union with childhood sweetheart, Vanshika Singh. The event, held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the luxurious Centrum Hotel, was nothing short of a royal affair, marked by the presence of the state’s highest dignitaries and the glitterati of Indian cricket.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath blesses the newlyweds in Lucknow

The highlight of the evening was the arrival of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who took time out of his schedule to personally congratulate the couple. In a heartwarming moment that quickly went viral, Kuldeep was seen seeking the Chief Minister’s blessings by touching his feet, a gesture of traditional respect that resonated deeply with fans online. CM Yogi later took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a photograph from the venue, offering his best wishes:

“Today, in Lucknow, I participated in the post-wedding reception ceremony of Indian cricketer Shri Kuldeep Yadav Ji, and offered blessings to the newlyweds.”

आज लखनऊ में भारतीय क्रिकेटर श्री कुलदीप यादव जी के शुभ विवाह उपरांत आयोजित प्रीतिभोज समारोह में सम्मिलित होकर नव दंपति को आशीर्वाद प्रदान किया।@imkuldeep18 pic.twitter.com/owe86uHpT2

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) March 17, 2026

The reception followed an intimate wedding ceremony held on March 14 at the historic Welcomhotel The Savoy in Mussoorie. While the wedding was a private affair against the Himalayan backdrop, the Lucknow reception was a star-studded gala. The guest list featured a “who’s who” of Indian cricket, including India head coach Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Longtime teammates and close friends like Yuzvendra Chahal, Suresh Raina, and Rinku Singh were also seen enjoying the festivities, which featured a grand entrance by the couple in a vintage Rolls-Royce.

Here’s the video:

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath attends the wedding reception of Indian cricket team's World Cup-winning star spinner Kuldeep Yadav and Vanshika in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/CINl4hAEyG

— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2026

Also WATCH: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy honours T20 World Champion Tilak Varma on his Hyderabad arrival

BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla hails Kuldeep Yadav’s contribution to Indian cricket

Beyond the glamour, the evening served as a tribute to Kuldeep’s pivotal role in India’s recent sporting dominance. Speaking to reporters at the venue, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla was full of praise for the spinner, acknowledging his journey from the streets of Kanpur to becoming a world champion.

“He has contributed a lot to Indian cricket. Today, his wedding reception is taking place here. We have all come here to give him blessings. He is a very capable player,” Shukla remarked. He also took the opportunity to look ahead, noting that while the players are currently in a celebratory mood, the cricketing calendar remains packed with the IPL 2026 set to kick off on March 28.

The timing of the wedding adds a poetic layer to Kuldeep’s career. Having recently secured a second consecutive T20 World Cup title after a dominant final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, the bowler described this period as the most important phase of his life. For Kuldeep and Vanshika, who have been together since his Under-12 days, this celebration in the heart of Uttar Pradesh was the perfect “homecoming” after a gruelling and successful international season.

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