Suniel Shetty praises Jemimah’s act of solidarity amid wedding turmoil
The past week has brought an emotional storm for Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana — a hospital emergency, a postponed wedding, and a public cloud of speculation. In the midst of it, teammate Jemimah Rodrigues quietly stepped away from the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) to be by her side — a gesture that drew high praise from actor and cricket enthusiast Suniel Shetty, also the father-in-law of Indian cricketer KL Rahul.
Reacting to the news of Rodrigues’ decision, Shetty wrote on Twitter, “Bumped into this article first thing in the morning and my heart felt full. Jemimah leaving the WBBL to be by Smriti’s side. No big statements, just quiet solidarity. This is what real teammates do. Simple. Straight. Genuine.”
Bumped into this article first thing in the morning and my heart felt full.
Jemimah leaving the WBBL to be by Smriti’s side. No big statements, just quiet solidarity.This is what real teammates do.
Simple. Straight. Genuine pic.twitter.com/dL04daGjSu— Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) November 28, 2025
Rodrigues had originally returned to India from Australia ahead of Mandhana’s planned wedding to music composer Palash Muchhal, which was scheduled for November 23. However, the ceremony was abruptly postponed following a medical emergency involving Mandhana’s father, Shrinivas, who was reportedly hospitalized with “symptoms of heart attack.”
As uncertainty swirled, further developments added to the distress. Muchhal himself was also admitted to a hospital and later transferred to a higher facility in Mumbai. Both men have since been discharged, but the wedding remains on hold.
The situation soon escalated on social media, with widespread speculation suggesting that the delay might not have been purely medical. Rumours of Muchhal allegedly cheating on Mandhana began surfacing, though neither Mandhana’s nor Muchhal’s camp has issued any public response to the allegations.
Amid this highly sensitive environment, Rodrigues chose not to return to her WBBL team, Brisbane Heat, for the remainder of the season. In a statement released by the franchise, CEO Terry Svenson expressed full support for her decision. “It has obviously been a challenging time for Jemi, so while it is unfortunate that she will take no further part in the WBBL, we were more than willing to agree to her request to remain in India,” he said.
Svenson further added, “The Heat club obviously wishes her and Smriti Mandhana’s family all the best for the future.”
Rodrigues’ departure means she will miss the final four matches of the WBBL season. But for fans and those close to the Indian women’s cricket team, her quiet exit has spoken louder than any public statement.
Her gesture — marked not by drama but by presence — was noted not just by Shetty, but by thousands online who echoed his sentiment: in times of uncertainty, true teammates stand tall by doing what’s right, not what’s expected.
