After Smriti Mandhana-Palash Muchhal call off the wedding, her close friend Jemimah Rodrigues' unfollow and cryptic post raises eyebrows

Smriti Mandhana’s announcement calling off her wedding with music composer Palaash Muchhal has set social media buzzing, and the drama hasn’t ended there. Just hours after the news broke, her close friend and teammate Jemimah Rodrigues posted a cryptic Instagram Story and quietly unfollowed Palaash, adding a new layer of intrigue to an already emotional situation. With statements from both Smriti and Palaash, and Jemimah’s subtle moves sparking fan theories, the story has taken a turn no one expected.

Smriti Mandhana and Palaash Muchhal found themselves at the centre of headlines after they publicly addressed the rumours surrounding their postponed wedding. Through their Instagram Stories, both confirmed that the wedding had not just been postponed but officially called off, and that they were choosing to move forward separately.

Amid this, Jemimah Rodrigues, one of Smriti’s closest friends, posted something that immediately caught the internet’s eye. Her Instagram Story featured a group of young singers performing Olivia Dean’s 2025 hit, Man I Need. Fans noticed the lyrics almost instantly, especially lines that spoke about wanting someone to step up, offer something meaningful, and be the person one truly needs. Jemimah also stopped following Palaash on Instagram, adding fuel to the ongoing chatter.

Smriti Mandhana's announcement

Smriti Mandhana formally addressed the situation on December 7, 2025. She shared that the constant speculation had pushed her to speak up, even though she prefers to keep her personal life private. She clarified that the wedding with Palaash Muchhal had been cancelled. Smriti added that her focus remains on representing India, winning trophies, and giving her best on the field. She thanked everyone for their support and said it was time for her to move forward.

Shortly after her message, Palaash Muchhal shared his own statement. He said he had decided to move on and was deeply affected by the online rumours surrounding something he considered sacred. He called this the most difficult phase of his life and expressed that he would face it with grace. Palaash also urged people to think before reacting to unverified claims, pointing out how easily words can cause harm. He added that his team would be taking legal action against those spreading defamatory content and thanked those who had shown him kindness during this time.

The wedding, originally set for November 23, had been postponed after Smriti’s father was hospitalised due to a heart ailment.