Watch: Mandhana makes first public appearance since calling off wedding, hugs Harmanpreet

Indian batter Smriti Mandhana made her first public appearance after calling off her wedding with music composer Palash Muchhal. On Wednesday, December 10, she was spotted in New Delhi, where she greeted India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her manager Noopur Kashyap with a warm hug.
Both Mandhana and Harmanpreet are currently in the capital to attend Amazon’s Smbhav Summit at the iconic Bharat Mandapam. Mandhana had announced on December 7 that she was stepping back from the relationship to focus fully on her cricketing career and winning trophies for India.
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A day after the announcement, Mandhana’s brother Shravan shared a picture of her back at training. On Tuesday, 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.
SMRITI FACES TURBULENT TIMES
On Monday, Mandhana shared a post on Instagram that sent the internet into overdrive, just days after her relationship came to an end. Her caption — “For me, calm isn’t silence - it’s control” - racked up over eight lakh likes within hours, instantly reigniting speculation surrounding the breakup.
The couple had celebrated their engagement earlier this year, after Palash Muchhal surprised Mandhana with a proposal at the DY Patil Stadium - the iconic venue of India’s Women’s World Cup final triumph. Their wedding was scheduled for November 23, 2025, in Sangli. However, the ceremony was abruptly postponed when Mandhana’s father was hospitalised on the morning of the event due to a sudden medical emergency.
Shortly after, Muchhal was also admitted to the hospital, reportedly suffering from severe stress. Faced with back-to-back crises in both families, the wedding was called off indefinitely.
In the aftermath, speculation and unverified rumours flooded social media, including allegations of infidelity against Muchhal. His family strongly refuted these claims, denouncing what they called false and damaging accusations. Muchhal later issued a statement confirming he was moving on from the relationship, while warning of legal action against those spreading “false and defamatory content” about him.
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Published By:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published On:
Dec 10, 2025