It’s over!! Palash Muchhal and Smriti Mandhana unfollow each other after calling off wedding

Composer Palash Muchhal and Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana have taken their most visible step yet towards confirming their separation after calling off their wedding, with both unfollowing each other on Instagram. The move comes weeks after their highly anticipated November wedding was postponed following a series of family health emergencies.

The couple had been set to marry on November 23 in Sangli, but the ceremony was deferred indefinitely after Mandhana’s father was hospitalised and Muchhal was later admitted to hospital himself. What began as a sudden postponement has now formally turned into a breakup, marked by public statements and a visible social media disconnect.

Social media signals a final split

Soon after releasing their respective statements, both Muchhal and Mandhana removed each other from their Instagram following lists, a development widely interpreted as confirmation that the relationship has ended.

Muchhal, however, has not removed the video of his elaborate public proposal at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium – the same venue where the Indian women’s team lifted the 2025 World Cup trophy. Mandhana, by contrast, has deleted all engagement- and wedding-related posts from her account, including the proposal clip.

Wedding halted by family health crisis

The wedding plans began to unravel just days before the scheduled ceremony. Mandhana’s father, Shrinivas Mandhana, was rushed to hospital in Sangli after showing heart-attack-like symptoms on the very morning the wedding festivities were set to begin. The situation took another dramatic turn a day later when Muchhal was also admitted to hospital, reportedly due to stress.

With both families facing medical emergencies, the wedding was postponed indefinitely by mutual agreement. At the time, neither side commented publicly, requesting privacy.

Rumours, accusations and public scrutiny

Despite the families’ efforts to keep matters private, rumours rapidly circulated online, accusing Muchhal of infidelity with a choreographer. The composer’s family strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and defamatory.

In the days that followed, Mandhana and several Indian teammates who had posted wedding-related photographs removed the images from their social media accounts. During this period, teammate Jemimah Rodrigues reportedly withdrew from the Women’s Big Bash League to remain in India and support Mandhana privately.

Muchhal breaks silence, warns of legal action

On December 7, Muchhal addressed the situation for the first time in a statement shared on Instagram Stories.

He wrote, "I have decided to move on in my life and step back from my personal relationship. 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. This is the most difficult phase of my life, and I will deal with it gracefully, holding on to my beliefs. I truly hope we, as a society, learn to pause before judging someone based on unverified gossip, whose sources are never identified. Our words can wound in ways we may never understand. While we focus on these things, many people in the world are facing drastic consequences. My team will be taking strict legal action against those spreading false and defamatory content. Thank you to everyone who has stood by me with kindness during this difficult time.”

Mandhana’s statement: Focus turns back to cricket

Mandhana also issued a statement on the same day, seeking privacy and signalling her intent to move forward. Reasserting her commitment to the sport, she said,"I believe there is a higher purpose driving us all and for me that has always been representing my country at the highest level. 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. Thank you for all your support. It's time to move forward."

Despite the personal turmoil, Mandhana is set to resume her professional commitments. She will lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the upcoming Women’s Premier League, which begins on January 9 in Navi Mumbai.