Actor Suniel Shetty has publicly appreciated cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues for standing by her teammate and close friend Smriti Mandhana at a time when media speculation about Mandhana’s personal life is running high. Over the past few weeks, several reports have claimed that Mandhana’s wedding with music composer Palash Muchhal may have been cancelled, though no statement has been made by either of them.
In the middle of this sensitive chatter, Jemimah’s decision to opt out of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) to be with Smriti has drawn widespread attention. On Friday, Suniel Shetty shared a newspaper clipping on X that highlighted Jemimah’s choice. The headline read, “Jemimah opts out of WBBL to be by Mandhana’s side.”
Moved by the gesture, Shetty wrote, “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.”
Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, is known for keeping her private life away from the spotlight. With neither Mandhana nor Muchhal addressing the rumours, much of the conversation online has remained speculative. However, Jemimah’s quiet show of support has been widely recognised as a meaningful act of friendship during a difficult period.
