Rishabh Pant gave a witty reply to a fan asking Rohit Sharma’s whereabouts outside the airport as the Indian team departed for the tour of England on Thursday (June 5).
India are due to face England in a five-match Test series, beginning from June 20 in Leeds. It will mark the start of the team’s 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Having announced his retirement from the Test format last month, Rohit isn’t part of the current squad. However, Pant came up with a hilarious response when enquired about the former Indian captain.
The wicketkeeper-batter gave a reference of Rohit Sharma’s “garden” remark, leaving everyone in splits.
“Wo garden me ghoom rahe hai (He’s walking in the garden),” said Pant. The fan further goes on to ask Pant, if he would miss the garden. The southpaw retorted by saying, “Garden ki toh yaad aayegi bhai”.
Rohit Sharma’s Test journey began with an impressive 177 against West Indies at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 2013. Between 2013-18, he featured in 27 Tests, scoring 1,585 runs at an average of 39.63 with three centuries and 10 fifties.
After an underwhelming start, Sharma revived his Test career as an opener with two centuries against South Africa at Vizag in 2019. He finished his Test career with 4,301 runs coming from 67 matches at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties. He led India in 24 Tests, winning 12 and losing nine games.
Following his retirement, Shubman Gill has been handed India’s Test captaincy, with Rishabh Pant being named the vice-captain.
After the series opener at Headingley, India and England will move to Lord’s (June 28) for the second Test, followed by matches at Trent Bridge (July 6), The Oval (July 14), and Old Trafford (July 24).
