When Rishi Sunak Proposed To Akshata Murty In Kannada To Honour Her Roots
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Former UK PM Rishi Sunak proposed to Akshata Murty in Kannada, honouring her Bengaluru heritage and family culture.
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shared that he popped the question to his wife, Akshata Murty—daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and renowned author Sudha Murty—in Kannada. He expressed how marrying into a Bengaluru-based family deepened his connection with Kannada culture, including his enthusiastic support for the IPL's Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This heartfelt embrace of local traditions highlights a personal side of Sunak often unseen in politics.
In an interview with The Times of India, the Indian-origin leader revealed that he chose to propose to his wife, Akshata Murty, in her native language, Kannada, despite not being fully fluent at the time.
The couple first met at Stanford and tied the knot in a private ceremony in Bengaluru in 2009. Together, they have two daughters, Krishna, 14, and Anoushka, 13.
'I'm married into a Bangalore family, so RCB is naturally my team," he told the publication, mentioning that his in-laws presented him with an RCB jersey as a wedding gift. He's been a dedicated follower ever since, recalling, 'We attended matches years ago, and I even cheered for them from Downing Street."
For Rishi Sunak, RCB is special.
Like many devoted fans of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the former UK Prime Minister reportedly expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli, calling him his favourite player and describing him as a 'total legend" of the game. He went on to reveal that among his most treasured keepsakes is a cricket bat personally signed by Kohli. This special memento was reportedly gifted to him by India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, during his tenure, making it a meaningful symbol of both his passion for cricket and his close ties to India.
The bat serves as a constant reminder of his connection to the sport, the team, and the cultural bond he shares with his wife's hometown of Bengaluru.
Beyond his love for the game, Rishi Sunak reportedly highlighted cricket's unique role in diplomacy, noting how it often served as a great icebreaker in conversations with fellow world leaders. He recalled engaging in lively cricket banter with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, especially during the Ashes series—conversations that, while sometimes intense, were always good-natured and friendly.
Sunak also shared that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cricket often became a cheerful and familiar starting point before moving into formal discussions, reflecting the sport's power to build bridges across nations.
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