A day after publicly announcing her emotional decision to call off her wedding with music composer Palash Muchhal, Smriti Mandhana has quietly returned to what grounds her the most — cricket. Her brother, Shravan Mandhana, posted an Instagram story showing the star batter back in her training gear, working in the nets with her usual focus and intensity.
Mandhana recently played a pivotal role in India’s World Cup triumph, finishing as the team’s highest run-scorer. As vice-captain, she not only anchored India’s top order but also guided youngsters like Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma, forming a strong leadership core that helped India dominate throughout the tournament.
Her wedding had been scheduled during the short break after the World Cup. While Mandhana chose not to reveal the reason behind calling it off, nor respond to the growing social media chatter surrounding Muchhal, her statement firmly reiterated where her priorities now lie — her cricket and her country.
ALSO READ: Suryakumar Yadav Explains Gill–Samson Batting Position Call
“Over the past few weeks, there has been plenty of speculation around my life and I feel it is important for me to speak out at this time. I am a very private person… but I need to clarify that the wedding is called off,” Mandhana wrote.
SMRITI MANDHANA IS BACK 🔥
– She has started the practice for the Sri Lanka T20I series. pic.twitter.com/nawrH7ETnB
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 8, 2025
She requested space for both families, adding, “I would like to close this matter here and implore all of you to do the same… allow us the space to process and move on at our own pace.”
ALSO READ: Shakib Al Hasan Comes Out Of Retirement, Plans Full-Series Farewell Across All Formats
Emphasising her long-term commitment to Indian cricket, she concluded, “For me, there has always been a higher purpose — representing my country at the highest level. I hope to continue playing and winning trophies for India for as long as possible. It’s time to move forward.”
India are now gearing up for a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka from December 21 to 30, and Mandhana appears fully locked in on the challenges ahead.
