Smriti Mandhana's Wedding Called Off After Father Suffers Heart Attack

When Smriti Mandhana, India’s star batter and vice-captain of the women’s cricket team, was moments away from walking down the aisle on November 23, 2025, in Sangli, her wedding to music composer Palash Muchhal was abruptly canceled — not because of drama, not because of doubt, but because of love. Her father, Srinivas Mandhana, suffered a minor heart attack during breakfast that morning, and Smriti made the choice no athlete, no celebrity, no bride would ever regret: she stayed by his side.

A Wedding That Never Happened

The ceremony, planned with meticulous care at a grand venue in Sangli, Maharashtra, was set to begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 23. Haldi and mehndi rituals had already taken place the day before, filled with laughter, music, and the scent of turmeric and rosewater. Photographs of Smriti in a deep red lehenga, surrounded by her teammates and family, had gone viral. But by 10 a.m., the mood had shifted. Srinivas Mandhana, 62, collapsed suddenly. Paramedics rushed him to a local hospital, where he was placed under observation. His condition, sources say, is stable — but fragile.

By noon, the wedding management issued a terse statement: "The wedding scheduled for today has been postponed indefinitely." No fanfare. No press conference. Just quiet grief and resolve.

"I Can’t Marry Without My Dad"

Smriti’s business manager, Tuhin Mishra, confirmed the decision in a statement at 8:37 a.m. IST on November 24. "Smriti is incredibly close to her father. She’s always said he’s her first fan, her toughest critic, her anchor. In this moment, she didn’t have to think twice. She chose family over fanfare." It’s not just sentimentality. It’s a cultural truth many in India understand deeply: weddings aren’t just about two people. They’re about two families, woven together by generations. And when a parent’s health hangs in the balance, no celebration can proceed.

Palash Muchhal’s sister, singer Palak Muchhal, posted on Instagram: "Due to Srinivasji’s health, Smriti and Palash’s wedding is postponed. We humbly request everyone to respect the privacy of both families during this sensitive time." Her words were simple, heartfelt — and instantly shared thousands of times.

Smriti, for her part, deleted every photo from her Instagram feed related to the wedding — haldi, mehndi, pre-wedding snaps. A silent but powerful statement. No captions. No explanations. Just absence.

Love Story That Started With a Song

Their love story, by all accounts, was quiet and genuine. They met at a private Mumbai gathering in 2018. Palash, then unknown outside music circles, was humming an unreleased track. Smriti, exhausted after a long training session, paused. She asked him to sing it again. He did. She cried. "That’s the song I want to walk down the aisle to," she told him later.

He proposed to her in 2019 — right in front of Palak, during a family dinner. "I didn’t plan it," Palash once told a friend. "I just knew I’d never be this calm, this happy, anywhere else." By 2024, Smriti had posted a photo of their hands holding a cricket bat and a guitar. "Two worlds, one heartbeat," she wrote. The world cheered.

Even during India’s historic Women’s ODI World Cup win on November 2, 2025, Palash was there — in the stands at Indore, cheering louder than anyone. After the final wicket fell, he sprinted onto the field, not to celebrate with the team, but to find Smriti. They hugged. He kissed her forehead. Cameras caught it. Millions saw it. It was the moment everyone knew: this was real.

What Happens Now?

There is no new date. Not yet. The family won’t rush. Srinivas Mandhana remains under observation. Doctors say his heart function is recovering, but stress — emotional or physical — could still be risky.

"We’re not thinking about weddings," Tuhin Mishra told reporters. "We’re thinking about recovery. About sleep. About meals. About quiet mornings. That’s what matters now." The wedding planners have already refunded deposits. The venue has been blocked for six months. The music, the flowers, the invitations — all stored, waiting.

But here’s the thing: in a world obsessed with timelines, schedules, and social media posts, Smriti Mandhana just reminded everyone what really counts.

Behind the Headlines: The Human Cost of Celebration

This isn’t the first time a celebrity wedding has been called off. But it’s rare for it to be done with such grace — and such clarity of values.

In 2018, cricketer Yuvraj Singh postponed his wedding after his mother’s cancer relapsed. In 2021, actress Taapsee Pannu delayed her nuptials when her father fell ill. Each time, the public praised them — not for canceling, but for choosing humanity over headlines.

Smriti’s choice echoes that same truth: success is meaningless if the people who made it possible aren’t there to see it.

What’s Next?

The cricket world is watching. Smriti’s next international match is scheduled for February 2026 against Australia. Will she return? Of course. She always does. But her priorities have shifted. Her focus now is on healing — not just her father’s heart, but her own.

Palash Muchhal, meanwhile, has reportedly canceled all upcoming music projects. "I’m not composing anything until he’s back to his self," he told a close friend. "Not even a note." The wedding will happen. Eventually. When the time is right. When laughter returns. When the haldi smells the same. When Srinivas Mandhana can stand up, smile, and say, "I told you so." Until then, the world waits. Not for a ceremony. But for a miracle.