A look into the lesser-known love life of one of India's greatest fast bowlers, who is currently working as a match referee. Here's everything you need to know about the Indian bowler's love life.
The Indian cricket team has always been blessed to have some of the greatest bowlers in world cricket with them in almost every era. Currently, we have Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, and others contributing heavily to Indian cricket. From late 1998 to 2003, there was an Indian bowler, whose name on the team sheet was enough to scare some of the greatest batters of that era. In those years, he was the fastest Indian bowler at that time and used his deliveries to speed around 145-150 kph.
The iconic bowler we are talking about is none other than Javagal Srinath, aka 'Mysore Express'. Even after so many years of his retirement, he still holds the record of delivering the fastest bowl, 154.5 kmph, as an Indian bowler in an ODI match. The iconic delivery came against India's match against Pakistan in the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup. The record of dropping the fastest delivery in a T20 format is by Umran Malik, whose ball clocked 157 kmph during an IPL match.
Not only this, according to a report in CrickTracker, Javagal Srinath's one delivery clocked 157 kmph during India's Test match against South Africa in 1997. Not everyone is aware of the fact that Srinath is also India's second-highest wicket-taker in ODIs. The iconic pacer had clinched 315 wickets in 229 matches, while the highest wicket-taker bowler, Anil Kumble, has 334 wickets in 269 matches.
Apart from being an exceptionally talented bowler, Javagal Srinath is also a highly-educated cricketer. After completing his schooling at Marimallappa High School, Javagal Srinath decided to pursue engineering. For the uninitiated, he has completed an engineering degree in instrumentation from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE).
The iconic Indian cricketer, Javagal Srinath was first married to a lady named Jyothsna. The couple lived happily for many years, but cracks soon appeared in their paradise. The couple reportedly welcomed two kids, a son named Kai Srinath and a daughter named Riya Srinath. Unfortunately, Srinath and Jyothsna decided to part ways after being together for almost a decade. The ex-couple got divorced in 2007 or 2008, and since then, little is known about the cricketer's children.
When Javagal Srinath was going through this huge turmoil in his personal life, he was reaching new heights on the professional front. The cricketer was at the peak of his career, and it was indeed a shock for many people and his admirers to read news about his divorce. However, despite all the turbulence in his personal life, Srinath continued taking wickets and was fully focused on his career, which speaks volumes about his determination and love for cricket.
After parting ways with Jyothsna, the former Indian cricketer fell in love with a journalist named Madhavi Patravali. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, Javagal Srinath and his first wife, Jyothsna got officially divorced in 2008. As per a report in Sportskeeda, Srinath and Madhavi got married in 2008. The report further stated that when Srinath and Madhavi got married, the cricketer's second wife was working at The Times Of India.
Javagal Srinath and Madhavi Patravali got married at a low-key wedding ceremony and continue to live happily far from the reach of the media spotlight. Fast forward to 2025, and it is not known whether Javagal Srinath and Madhavi Patravali have any biological kids. On the professional front, Srinath currently serves as a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.
As a match referee so far, Javagal Srinath has officiated 65 Tests and 118 T20Is, including the Cricket World Cup, Champions Trophy, and T20 World Cup. The cricketer grabbed headlines in February 2025 when he and Nitin Menon pulled out their names from the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be hosted in Pakistan's three cities, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. At the same time, India will play their matches in Dubai because they've refused to travel to Pakistan for security reasons.
What are your thoughts on these lesser-known facts about Javagal Srinath's love life? Let us know.
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