India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has returned to cricket training following the announcement of her wedding cancellation with composer Palash Muchhal. She was seen practising at what appeared to be a private facility.Her brother Shravan Mandhana shared a photo on Instagram showing Smriti in full cricket gear, facing throwdowns. The image, accompanied by heart emojis, quickly gained attention on social media.
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Smriti Mandhana in training (Instagram Photo)
Smriti, who played a crucial role in India’s Women’s World Cup 2025 victory, is scheduled to return to competitive cricket in a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The series will be played from December 21 to 30 in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram.The matches will serve as preparation for next year’s T20 World Cup. Smriti will also captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League, beginning January 9 in Navi Mumbai.Addressing the wedding cancellation on Instagram, Mandhana wrote: “I need to clarify that the wedding is called off.” She requested privacy for both families and emphasised her continued commitment to cricket, stating that representing India remains her highest priority.Palash Muchhal also made a public statement, writing that he had decided to “move on” from the relationship, describing the period as one of the most difficult phases of his life. Muchhal appealed against the “baseless rumours” circulating about their relationship and warned of legal action against the spreaders of false or defamatory content.The wedding was initially planned for November 23 in Sangli, Maharashtra, but was postponed due to health emergencies. Mandhana’s father was hospitalised with cardiac issues on the wedding morning, and reports indicated Muchhal was also hospitalised.The postponement initially sparked hopes of rescheduling, but no new date was announced. Both parties began removing their pre-wedding content from social media platforms.Meanwhile, Smriti has received strong support from her India teammates during this period. Middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues even withdrew from the Women’s Big Bash League to stay with Smriti and provide support.
