The conversation around love, loyalty, and grand gestures has taken a sharp cultural turn online after the highly publicised breakup of cricketer Smriti Mandhana and music composer Palash Muchhal. What began as one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of the year has now become a heated internet debate on whether public displays of affection and extravagant proposals are signs of romance or red flags in disguise.
The couple’s story had unfolded like a fairy tale. Mandhana, fresh off India’s historic victory at the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, where she served as vice-captain, was proposed to by Muchhal in the middle of a cricket stadium, a moment that went viral instantly. Their pre-wedding festivities appeared equally joyous, with haldi, mehendi, and sangeet glimpses populating their Instagram bios.
But the celebrations abruptly halted when reports claimed the wedding had been postponed due to Mandhana’s father suffering chest pains. That was quickly overshadowed by a barrage of rumours alleging that Muchhal had been caught cheating the night before the ceremony, triggering a confrontation that preceded her father’s health scare. The speculation only intensified until Mandhana issued a direct public statement.
Smriti Mandhana shared on Instagram, “I need to clarify that the wedding is called off. I would like to close this matter here and implore all of you to do the same,” confirming the split for the first time.
Since then, social media and especially Reddit have been flooded with commentary dissecting everything from Palash Muchhal’s proposal to his behaviour during the World Cup celebrations. A dominant sentiment has emerged: that loyalty and over-the-top romance are not necessarily compatible.
A Reddit thread that rapidly gained traction showcased a wide spectrum of reactions:
“Loyalty and consistency >>>>>>>>>>over anything”
Another user wrote, “Being loyal doesn’t have anything to do with big gestures. Palaash is just a pathetic excuse of a man whom Smriti was unfortunate enough to be with. Good for her, it’s over now.”
Not everyone agreed with the idea that grand gestures belong exclusively to the unfaithful. One countered, “I wholeheartedly disagree. Loyal men can do extravagant gestures, and so can loyal women, just don’t cheat, for fuck’s sake. I plan elaborate dates for my girlfriend, and so does she, and we’re both loyal to each other. One day, I’m going to propose to her in a grand way because she deserves that, and most importantly, she enjoys it.
If your partner appreciates grand gestures, do them. If they want a low-key proposal, do that. Stop putting people in a box just because one asshole did something.”
Others argued that the issue wasn’t extravagance itself, but timing and intent:
“A loyal man would not take the shine away from her achievements. Go extravagant! But not at the expense of your partner’s achievements.”
Another pointed directly to the stadium proposal:
“He could have proposed to her anywhere in the world, but he chose the stadium where she shone, just to make it about himself.”
Some users claimed the gesture crossed into self-promotion:
“Nah! Loyal men do this proposal and grand things, but they know how to keep things private:)”
“If you are talking about the proposal, then no, loyal men also do grand gestures, but yes, they don’t milk it as he did by posting on Instagram for clout (point in case- Rohit).”
Several comments criticised how visible Muchhal was during Mandhana’s professional moments:
“More than the loyalty here, I absolutely hate that he did that on the field she plays… And Mr.Sorryass and his PR have taken the ride on her bandwagon to promote him as the supportive sweetheart.. I hate it. Looking back on the videos of the win, he is there in fucking every frame.”
The thread spiralled into broader reflections on relationship psychology:
“Over Green Flags are mostly a Red Flag in disguise.”
“Covert narc and avoidants also don’t do all this drama. No moral here.”
One user summed up a perspective many seemed to share:
“excessive “going over the top” (grand gestures, intense focus) can sometimes mask deeper issues like insecurity, low self-esteem, or a need for control, which can correlate with cheating. I often see people going over the top just to overcompensate for the wrong they are doing behind the back to their partner. Just an observation.”
While Smriti Mandhana has made it clear she wants the matter to end, the internet appears far from ready to move on.