Watch: Smriti Mandhana makes first public appearance since calling off wedding

Star opener named in India’s 15-member squad for upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka

Last updated: December 10, 2025 | 17:49

Jai Rai, Assistant Editor

2 MIN READ

Smriti Mandhana with the Women's Premier League trophy.

Source: Mandhana X

Dubai: Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana made her first public appearance since calling off her wedding when she was spotted in New Delhi on Wednesday. She was seen warmly greeting India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her manager, Noopur Kashyap.

Both Mandhana and Harmanpreet are in the capital to attend Amazon’s Smbhav Summit at the Bharat Mandapam.

On December 7, Mandhana announced that she was stepping away from the relationship with music composer Palash Muchhal to fully focus on her cricketing career and India’s pursuit of trophies.

A day after her announcement, Mandhana’s brother Shravan shared a photo of her back in training. On December 9, the star opener was named in India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, beginning December 21 in Visakhapatnam.

On Monday, Mandhana also posted on social media, sparking a wave of reactions online. Her caption — “For me, calm isn’t silence — it’s control” — quickly garnered over eight lakh likes and reignited discussions surrounding the recent breakup.

Mandhana and Palash had celebrated their engagement earlier this year, after he proposed to her at the DY Patil Stadium — the venue where India clinched the Women’s World Cup title. Their wedding was planned for November 23 in Sangli, but it was postponed when Mandhana’s father was hospitalised due to a sudden medical emergency on the morning of the ceremony.

Soon after, Muchhal was also admitted to the hospital, reportedly due to severe stress. With both families facing simultaneous crises, the wedding was called off indefinitely.

In the days that followed, social media saw a wave of speculation and unverified rumours, including allegations of infidelity against Muchhal. His family firmly denied these claims, calling them false and damaging. Muchhal later issued a statement saying he was moving on from the relationship and warned that legal action would be taken against those spreading “false and defamatory content” about him.

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Jai RaiAssistant Editor

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer's discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging. Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.

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