Cricket fans woke up to a flurry of social media posts, deletions and rumours involving India star batter Smriti Mandhana and music composer Palash Muchhal. Over the last 24–48 hours the couple’s wedding posts disappeared from Smriti’s Instagram, messages about an indefinite postponement of the wedding appeared, and people online began asking whether Smriti had unfollowed Palash on Instagram. Below I break down what the reports say, what has been confirmed, what’s still only speculation, and how to read this kind of social-media story carefully.
Short version (TL;DR)
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Smriti Mandhana removed or deleted wedding-related posts from her Instagram account after the couple’s wedding plans were reportedly postponed. (Hindustan Times)
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There are social-media claims that Smriti (or people close to her) unfollowed Palash Muchhal, and those claims are being discussed widely — but different outlets note the claim is part of circulating rumours and not an official statement by the couple. (mint)
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Additional rumours surfaced about alleged leaked chats involving Palash and another woman named “Mary D’Costa”; those leaked-chat claims are being shared on social platforms and covered by several entertainment and news sites, but they remain unverified. (ABP Live)
What did the reliable reports say?
Several mainstream outlets reported the same basic facts: Smriti’s wedding posts were removed and the wedding was postponed indefinitely because of a family health issue — specifically, Smriti’s father was taken to hospital, and Palash Muchhal was also reportedly hospitalised around the same time. News sites covering sports and entertainment explained that in light of the health scare the couple paused the wedding plans and Smriti deleted wedding posts from social media. (Hindustan Times)
Why this matters: removing wedding images and postponing a wedding because of a family emergency is a private decision that often leads to public curiosity. In this case, public curiosity quickly turned into speculation about the status of the relationship. (Moneycontrol)
The “unfollow” claim — what it is and how sure we are
On social platforms users noticed changes in who was following whom. That sparked the question: Did Smriti unfollow Palash on Instagram? An article on LiveMint collected the social claims and checked public Instagram activity, reporting that unfollow claims were circulating. At the same time, many outlets pointed out that social-media activity (follows/unfollows) can be temporary, misreported, or misinterpreted — and that an unfollow alone is not proof of a breakup or cheating. (mint)
Important nuance: journalists often rely on public Instagram data and on screenshots shared online. Screenshots can be old, edited, or taken out of context. So an unfollow claim should be treated as an unconfirmed sign — interesting to watch, but not definitive. (mint)
The Mary D’Costa / leaked chats allegation
Another layer of the story is the sudden appearance of posts claiming leaked flirty chats involving Palash and a woman named Mary D’Costa. These claims spread quickly on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and in entertainment blogs. Some reports name the account and show screenshots; others note that Mary D’Costa made an Instagram account private after the attention. But mainstream outlets that summarized these claims have not published authenticated chat logs or confirmed sources. That means the allegation remains unverified and should be treated with caution. (ABP Live)
Why this is sensitive: leaked chat allegations touch on privacy and reputations. Until there is clear verification from trusted sources, repeating claims as fact can harm people unfairly. Journalists typically wait for confirmation before presenting such claims as true. (ABP Live)
What the families said (and didn’t say)
Palash’s sister, Palak Muchhal, and other family members have been asked for comment by media. According to some reports, she released a brief statement asking for privacy and describing this as a sensitive time while the family focuses on health and recovery. There has not been a direct, public statement from Smriti or Palash confirming a breakup. That again suggests caution before jumping to conclusions. (The Times of India)
How to read this kind of celebrity news (simple guide)
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Check source quality. Established news sites that fact-check are more reliable than random screenshots on social media. (Hindustan Times)
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Screenshots can be faked. Don’t treat a single screenshot as proof. Look for corroboration from multiple trusted outlets. (mint)
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A deleted post ≠ confirmation of a breakup. People delete posts for many reasons — privacy, grief, family emergency, or simply a change of plan. (Hindustan Times)
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Respect privacy. When health issues are involved, the kindest approach is to wait for confirmed updates rather than amplify unverified rumours. (The Times of India)
What likely happens next
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The most likely immediate outcome is that the families focus on the health and recovery of Smriti’s father and Palash (if he was sick), and public updates will be limited. Trusted news outlets will update their stories only when the couple or their families speak publicly. (Hindustan Times)
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If the couple wants to make a clear statement (for example, to deny a break-up), they will probably use their official social accounts or an official representative. Until then, social-media chatter should be treated as speculation. (mint)
Final thoughts (short, simple)
This story mixes genuine worry (a family health emergency) with the internet’s hunger for gossip (unfollow screenshots and alleged leaked chats). The confirmed facts so far are: wedding posts were removed and the wedding was postponed for health reasons. The more dramatic claims — unfollowing as proof of a break-up, and leaked chats implying cheating — are circulating but not independently verified by authoritative sources. Be careful sharing unverified content.