Rishi Sunak reveals he proposed to Akshata Murty in Kannada, calls Virat Kohli a 'total legend'

Rishi Sunak also shared that cricket served as an icebreaker in his meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed that he proposed to his wife, Akshata Murty—daughter of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and renowned author Sudha Murty—in Kannada. In an interview with The Times of India, Sunak disclosed that despite not having mastered the language at the time, he deliberately chose to use his wife’s mother tongue to propose, embracing her cultural roots in a deeply personal way.

“I’m married into a Bangalore family, so RCB is my team,” he said, expressing both affection for his wife's heritage and his loyalty to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He added that his in-laws had gifted him an RCB jersey when he got married, and from then on, he had closely followed the team. “We went to matches a long time ago and I used to cheer them on in Downing Street,” he shared, recalling his ongoing support for the IPL side even while serving in high office.

Sunak and Akshata Murty met while studying at Stanford University in the United States and tied the knot in 2009 in a modest ceremony held in Bengaluru. The couple have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka.

Like many Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans, Sunak named former RCB captain Virat Kohli as his favourite cricketer. “He’s a total legend,” the former UK Prime Minister remarked. He also revealed that one of his “prized possessions” was a cricket bat signed by Kohli, which had been gifted to him by India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, during Sunak’s time in office.

Looking ahead to the IPL 2025 final between RCB and Punjab Kings, Sunak confirmed that he would be rooting for the Bengaluru franchise. “I’m also hoping for a big contribution from RCB’s English contingent—Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone. Let’s bring it home,” he said, referring to the English players in the squad.

Beyond his personal connection to the sport, Sunak reflected on cricket’s significance in international relations. He noted that the game often served as a diplomatic tool, helping world leaders build rapport. He recalled having friendly but spirited cricket banter with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, particularly during the Ashes series, which, he said, could get “intense” but always remained good-natured.

Sunak also shared that cricket served as an icebreaker in his meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, often forming the backdrop to their early conversations before official matters began.