Veteran Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty shared a heartfelt message for India Women’s cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues after she chose to skip the ongoing Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season to support her close friend and teammate Smriti Mandhana during a difficult time.

Mandhana’s wedding was postponed last week following her father’s hospitalization due to heart-related health complications. On Thursday, Jemimah’s WBBL franchise, Brisbane Heat, confirmed that the player requested to stay in India to be with her friend. Shetty praised the gesture on social media, calling it the purest form of friendship.

"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," Shetty wrote on X.

Jemimah had returned to India a few days earlier to attend Mandhana’s wedding and was scheduled to fly back to Australia to resume her WBBL duties with Brisbane Heat. The franchise confirmed that they had approved her request for release. Jemimah had been the club’s No.1 pick in the ‘International Player’ draft earlier this year.

"The Brisbane Heat have agreed to a request to release Jemimah Rodrigues from the remainder of the Women's Big Bash League.

Rodrigues returned home to India after the Heat's match against the Hobart Hurricanes 10 days ago as part of a pre-arranged commitment where she was to be involved in Indian teammate Smriti Mandhana's wedding last weekend,” said Brisbane Heat in a statement.

“However, the celebrations were subsequently postponed due to a health issue with Mandhana's father, Rodrigues will stay in India to support her teammate, and the Heat has agreed to her not returning for the final four games of the WBBL season,” it added.

Jemimah played a pivotal role in India’s maiden Women’s World Cup triumph, scoring an unbeaten century in the semifinal against seven-time champions Australia, helping India chase down a challenging target.