Sri Lankan cricket star Mahesh Theekshana and his wife, Arthika Yonalihave shared some joyous news with their fans worldwide. Just a year after their star-studded wedding, the couple took to social media to announce that they are expecting their first child.

The announcement has sent a wave of excitement through the cricketing community, with teammates, fans, and franchises flooding the couple’s social media pages with “congratulations” and well-wishes.

A new chapter for Maheesha Theekshana

The announcement comes at a poignant time for the couple, coinciding with their first wedding anniversary.

Taking to Instagram to share the milestone, the couple posted a series of heartwarming photos. One of the slides featured a glimpse of the ultrasound, confirming that the “mystery spinner” is about to take on his most important role yet: fatherhood.

“Late Christmas, early New Year and the most beautiful surprise to begin our next chapter,” wrote Theeskshana on Instagram.

From the cricket pitch to parenthood

2025 was a whirlwind year for Theekshana. On the field, he cemented his status as one of the world’s premier white-ball spinners, notably claiming a historic ODI hat-trick against New Zealand and making a high-profile move to the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. He achieved the No. 1 spot in ICC’s ODI bowler rankings in February 2025. Despite these highlights, his T20I performance for the year saw a high average of 39.20 and an economy rate of 9.76 in the IPL, indicating some struggles with consistency.

Off the field, his partnership with Arthika, a professional cabin crew member, has been a favorite among fans. The couple has often shared snippets of their travels and life together, but this latest “adventure”—as their wedding theme once hinted—is undoubtedly their biggest one yet.