Mumbai: India cricketer Smriti Mandhana has officially confirmed that her wedding with music composer Palash Muchhal has been called off. After weeks of intense speculation, Mandhana addressed the matter publicly through a statement shared on Instagram on December 7, urging fans and the media to respect the privacy of both families.

Mandhana breaks silence after weeks of speculation

In her Instagram note, Mandhana wrote that the past few weeks had been filled with unverified rumours about her personal life, and it had become necessary for her to share the truth.
She stated, “I am a very private person and I would like to keep it that way, but I need to clarify that the wedding is called off.”

The left-handed batter emphasised that she wished to close the matter with her post, saying, “I would like to close this matter here and implore all of you to do the same. I request you to please respect the privacy of both families at this time and allow us the space to process and move on at our own pace.”

Mandhana further reflected on her priorities, reiterating that representing India will always be her highest purpose.
“I hope to continue to play and win trophies for India for as long as possible, and that is where my focus will forever be,” she added.

A high-profile wedding that never happened

The Mandhana–Muchhal wedding had been expected to be one of the most high-profile celebrity events of the year. The couple had exchanged rings earlier when Palash surprised Smriti with a proposal at the DY Patil Stadium during the Women’s World Cup celebrations.

The wedding was originally scheduled for 23 November 2025 in Mandhana’s hometown, Sangli. However, hours before the ceremony, Smriti’s father suffered a sudden medical emergency and had to be hospitalised. Shortly after, Palash Muchhal was also admitted to hospital due to severe stress.

Caught in an unexpected double crisis, both families agreed to postpone the ceremony indefinitely. But the silence that followed only sparked further speculation and unverified gossip.

Rumours, accusations and online frenzy

As days passed, rumours began to spread rapidly — including accusations of cheating against Muchhal. His family strongly denied the allegations and criticised those circulating false information.

India teammates who had travelled for the wedding returned quietly, and photos from the pre-wedding functions were discreetly removed from social media. The silence contributed to a wave of speculation, prompting fans to search for clues in Mandhana’s online activity.

On December 5, when Smriti resumed social media by posting an advertisement video, observant fans noticed she was no longer wearing her engagement ring — signalling that an announcement was imminent. She has also unfollowed Palash on Instagram, while he continues to follow her at the time of writing.

Palash Muchhal responds with a legal warning

Shortly after Mandhana’s statement, Palash Muchhal released one of his own. He acknowledged that he had decided to “move on” and described the situation as the most difficult phase of his life.

He wrote, “It has been very difficult for me to see people react so easily to baseless rumours about something that has been most sacred to me.”
The music composer emphasised the harm caused by unverified speculation and revealed that his team would take strict legal action against those spreading defamatory content.

Muchhal added, “I truly hope we, as a society, learn to pause before judging someone based on unverified gossip.”

Moving forward: Mandhana focuses on cricket

Mandhana, known for maintaining a disciplined and private personal life, appears to be channelling her energy back into cricket. The star opener reiterated that her commitment to representing India remains unwavering.

She is set to return to her training routine soon and will captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the upcoming Women’s Premier League, beginning January 9 in Navi Mumbai.

For now, both Mandhana and Muchhal have chosen to close the chapter and move ahead in their respective lives, hoping the public will allow them the space to heal without further intrusion.