Superstar cricketer Smriti Mandhana ended her social media hiatus, posting for the first time since her wedding with composer Palash Muchhal was postponed in November. Smriti returned to Instagram with a promotional video for a popular toothpaste brand, in which she recalled a piece of advice from former India captain Rahul Dravid on the importance of oral health.
While many fans welcomed her back online, a section of followers quickly noticed that Smriti was not wearing her engagement ring in the video. India Today was not able to ascertain whether the advertisement was filmed before her engagement or after it.
The wedding between Smriti Mandhana and Palash Muchhal — originally scheduled for 23 November 2025 in Sangli — was indefinitely postponed after Smriti’s father suffered a sudden medical emergency and had to be hospitalised on the morning of the ceremony. Soon after, Palash also required hospital care, reportedly due to severe stress. Facing a double crisis, both families agreed to call off the ceremony for the time being.
Smriti exchanged rings with Palash after the composer surprised her with a proposal at the DY Patil Stadium, the venue for the Women’s World Cup final. The wedding had been planned in the afterglow of India’s historic World Cup triumph, in which the Maharashtra batter shone with a tournament-topping run tally.
In the aftermath, speculation surged online. Reports claimed that the couple’s social-media activity had changed: Smriti allegedly her wedding-related posts, and some of her teammates reportedly unfollowed or removed tags related to Palash. These developments fuelled cheating rumours, suggesting Palash may have been unfaithful.
However, amid the speculation, the duo updated their Instagram bios last week, adding a nazar emoji to ward off the evil eye.
Several reports described how these rumours accelerated when alleged screenshots of private chat conversations — purportedly involving Palash and another woman — began circulating. However, neither Smriti nor Palash has publicly confirmed any cheating allegation.
Moreover, Smriti’s brother, Shravan Mandhana, dismissed fresh rumours about a new wedding date (widely circulated on social media), clarifying that no new date has been finalised and the wedding remains postponed.
Meanwhile, families on both sides have appealed for privacy and positivity during this difficult time. Palash’s sister publicly acknowledged the strain the situation has caused in their families.
In a heartwarming gesture, Smriti Mandhana’s teammate Jemimah Rodrigues stayed back in India, withdrawing from the Women’s Big Bash League to support the left-handed batter.
Smriti is expected to be back in action when India play a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka at home from December 21 to 30. The matches will be played in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram and will serve as India's preparation for next year's T20 World Cup.
Smriti will also lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the upcoming Women's Premier League, starting January 9 in Navi Mumbai.
