Did You Know? Rohit Sharma once did exactly what Palash Did for Smriti: A stadium proposal

Smriti Mandhana and Palash Muchhal are just days away from their November 23 wedding, and their proposal story has already won hearts across the country. What made it even more special was the choice of location. Palash popped the question at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, the same ground where India lifted the Women’s World Cup 2025 trophy.

His proposal video, shared online, shows the couple walking onto the quiet stadium turf. Smriti’s eyes are gently covered, unaware of what’s waiting for her. The second she removes the blindfold, she sees Palash on one knee, holding a bouquet of roses and a ring. She breaks into tears, overwhelmed, before slipping a ring onto his finger too. The clip ends with both of them holding out their rings, smiling through the flood of emotions. This moment didn’t just feel cinematic. It felt familiar. Because years ago, another Indian cricket star had chosen a cricket ground to begin his forever.

When Palash and Smriti’s Story Quietly Took Shape

The stadium proposal might seem grand, but their story began in the most ordinary way. Smriti and Palash first crossed paths in 2019 through common friends in Mumbai’s creative circles. Their friendship flowed easily. She was grounded, calm, and thoughtful; he was warm, expressive, and almost always surrounded by music. Over time, their bond deepened, though they chose to keep it private. There were tiny clues, an affectionate comment here, a hint in a lyric there, but nothing loud. Not until July 2024, when they casually posted a cake with “5 ??” on it, marking five years together. It was simple and subtle, just like them.

By then, Smriti had helped script India’s greatest ODI moment: the team’s maiden Women’s World Cup win. With over 5,300 ODI runs, she stands as India’s second-highest run-getter after Mithali Raj. Palash, who had cheered for the team throughout the tournament, shared pictures with the trophy and captioned one of them, “Am I still dreaming?”

Their love story, years in the making, found its big milestone on a cricket pitch, just the way another beloved cricket couple’s journey had.

Rohit Sharma’s Proposal: The Memory That Sparked a Parallel

Long before Palash walked Smriti onto that stadium, Rohit Sharma had done something strikingly similar. During a conversation with Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra, Rohit revealed how he planned a memorable surprise for Ritika Sajdeh. He took her to the ground where he first played cricket, pretending they were headed out for ice cream. Ritika had no idea of the detour. As they drove across the city, Rohit kept up the pretence, joking about a faraway ice cream shop. When they finally reached the pitch, the lights were dim, and Ritika couldn’t even tell it was a cricket field. Rohit’s friends had already set up the spot and were waiting to capture the moment. Right in the middle of the pitch, he went down on one knee and proposed. It was personal and nostalgic, tied to the place where his cricket story began.

Today, Rohit and Ritika are proud parents of two, daughter Samaira and baby boy Ahaan, born in November 2024. Their love story remains one of the most cherished in Indian cricket circles.

Two Proposals, One Heartfelt Tradition

There’s something poetic about these two stories running parallel. Both proposals unfolded on cricket grounds. Both involved world champions whose careers are intertwined with stadiums and floodlights.

Palash’s sweet gesture for Smriti feels like a modern echo of Rohit’s thoughtful surprise for Ritika. Different couples, different journeys, but the same emotion. As Smriti and Palash get ready for their wedding celebrations, their proposal has already added another chapter to cricket’s sweetest off-field tales, a reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful stories begin right in the middle of the pitch.