In a major development, India cricketer Smriti Mandhana has announced her wedding to musician Palash Muchhal has been called off. Mandhana hasn’t revealed the reason and asked for privacy.
In a post on Instagram, Mandhana confirmed that the wedding has been cancelled.
“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 and I would like to keep it that way but I need to clarify that the wedding is called off,” Mandhana wrote.
“I would like to close this matter here and implore all of you to do the same. I request you to please respect the privacy of both families at this time and allow us the space to process and move on at our own pace,”
she added.
Mandhana, who was part of India’s victorious ICC Women’s World Cup-winning campaign, signed off by expressing shifting focus to her playing career.
“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,” Mandhana wrote.
Palash Threatens Legal Action
Meanwhile, Palash also shared a post via his official Instagram account confirming the development while slamming people for spreading “baseless rumour” about his personal life. Ever since the wedding was postponed last month, social media was inundated with speculations behind the “real reason” even after the family confirmed that the decision was taken after Mandhana’s father was rushed to a hospital as he developed symptoms of a heart attack on the day of the wedding.
“I have decided to move on in my life and step back from my personal relationship. It’s been very difficult for me to see people react so easily on baseless rumours about something which has been most sacred to me,” Muchhal wrote.
“It’s 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,” he added.
Muchhal has also warned his team will take legal action against those who have been spreading “false and defamatory content”.
“Our words can wound in ways we may never understand. While we think about 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 in this tough time,” he concluded.
