India is still not over with the women’s cricket team’s historic World Cup win over South Africa at DY Patil Stadium on November 2. Now, on the heels of this country-proud moment comes yet another happy news on the same pitch. Smriti Mandhana’s longtime boyfriend, singer and composer, Palaash Muchhal, surprised her with a romantic on-field engagement proposal at the very same of DY Patil Stadium.
In a video shared by Muchhal, he is seen guiding a blindfolded Mandhana to the stadium’s pitch. When she removes the blindfold, Muchhal is already down on one knee. He presents a ring to his lady love in a cherishable moment. Mandhana, visibly emotional, says yes. Within moments, close friends rush to the pitch, including Muchhal’s sister and popular singer Palak Muchhal turning the moment into a celebration. With the video fetching 3 million plus views, it made everyone stop by, gush about and celebrate the victory of true love.
View this post on Instagram
Mandhana later shared the news with fans through a fun reel announcing her engagement over the song ‘Samjo Ho Hi Gaya’ from the movie Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. The reel shows her World Cup winning teammates Jemimah Rodrigues, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, and Arundhati Reddy playfully doing antics as Mandhana reveals her engagement ring, sending social media into a frenzy. As comments like “Ladkiwale already winning the sangeet” flew in, the country was curious and excited for Smriti Mandhana and Palak Muchhal’s celebrity wedding. We take a look at the couple’s quiet five-year relationship where their love blossomed away from the spotlight.
View this post on Instagram
When Did Smriti Mandhana & Palaash Muchhal Meet?
Smriti Mandhana and Palaash Muchhal first met in 2019 at a private gathering in Mumbai. Muchhal had performed an unreleased song that evening, which instantly captivated Mandhana. What began as an effortless candid meeting eventually evolved into a deep connection. True to their personalities, Mandhana, a calm and grounded person and Palaash, an introspective and artistic soul kept their relationship private for years despite being in cricket and music fields which often come into public spotlight. Over the years, they have made no red carpet appearances, or public pictures.
However, they have dropped minor hints through their late night Instagram stories, a comment here and there and through some dedicated songs. Rumours of their relationship ran rife when Mandhana attended the wedding of Muchhal’s sister Palak and Muchhal flew in to Bangladesh to celebrate Mandhana’s 27th birthday.
Smriti Mandhana & Palaash Muchhal’s love story
However, it was finally in July 2024 when Palaash Muchhal and Smriti Mandhana confirmed their relationship with Muchhal dedicating an Instagram post reading “#5” confirming their five years together as a couple. The picture showed both Mandhana and Muchhal cutting the cake and embracing each other. Since then there has been no looking back as their love grew stronger, receiving wishes and even having fan pages dedicated to their love story.
View this post on Instagram
Recently, Muchhal made a romantic gesture to celebrate Smriti’s World Cup win. He got a tattoo dedicated to Mandhana showing a grey circle with “SM18” indicating her initials and jersey number on it. It instantly won the heart of the Internet with fans, saying it as the “most poetic tattoo in cricket”. Notably, Mandhana is one of the most expensive players in women’s Premier league history who was purchased by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for 3 crore and 40 lakhs. Muchhal’s love and respect for the cricketer shows how a supportive and loving partner plays an instrumental role in letting a woman stride towards personal and professional wins.
When Are Smrit Mandhana and Palaash Muchhal Getting Married?
After Palaash Muchhal proposed to Smriti Mandhana at DY Patil Stadium, there’s a buzz about the couple’s wedding date. While Mandhana and Muchhal left everyone guessing, it was unexpectedly Prime Minister Narendra Modi who revealed their wedding date as November 23 in a heartfelt congratulatory message. In an official message, the PM praised the couple’s shared values, describing their bond as a perfect blend of Mandhana’s “cover drive” and Palaash’s “musical symphony”.
As the countdown has officially begun for Smriti Mandhana and Palaash Muchhal‘s wedding, Muchhal received a warm welcome at the cricketer’s house for a ceremonial occasion dressed in a kurta pyjama. He was greeted with a garland and warm hugs. Pictures have also surfaced on the Internet showing Mandhana’s haldi ceremony that took place on November 21.
View this post on Instagram
It shows Mandhana along with Indian women’s cricket team members, dressed in yellow attire and dancing to the Dhol beats. She seems to be enjoying every moment of her fun filled pre-wedding celebrations as the country awaits their wedding.
As per recent developments, Mandhana was expected to tie the knot with music composer Palaash Muchhal on November 23 in Sangli, Maharashtra. However, the wedding has been put on pause. The celebrations stalled after back-to-back health issues in the family. Smriti’s father, Shriniwas Mandhana, was rushed to Sarvhit Hospital And Medical Research Centre on Friday morning with heart-attack–like symptoms. A day later, Palaash also landed in a Sangli hospital due to sudden health concerns. Sources say Palaash is recovering, while Mandhana’s father continues to be monitored. In the middle of all this, Mandhana removed all wedding-related posts from her Instagram including her proposal and engagement announcement sparking speculation on her personal life and wedding.
