Recently, former Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane told a humorous tale about his former teammate Cheteshwar Pujara. He remembered how the batter disliked fielding after finishing his innings.

Rahane disclosed that as Pujara's replacements, the team's younger players had to field in close proximity. Even he occasionally had to field at short leg when the Saurashtra batter wanted to rest, according to the former cricket player who is now a commentator.

"When he played, and I was the 12th man, whenever he came after his batting, bhaisahab ko fielding nahi karni hoti thi (he did not want to field). He used to sit inside, and a youngster had to go in. I have gone in to field at short leg for him, and we have been hit quite a lot,” Rahane stated during a conversation on Sony Sports.

Rahane and Pujara were the pillars of the Indian middle order during some of the best days in Test cricket. On August 24, 2025, Pujara declared his retirement from all forms of cricket, having scored 7,195 Test runs in 103 appearances. Rahane, meanwhile, scored 5,077 runs in 85 Tests before retiring earlier this month.

Now both Pujara and Rahane are part of the commentary panel in the ongoing two-Test series between India and Sri Lanka.