India’s cricket team is gearing up for their first Test series without Rohit Sharma. The squad, led by Shubman Gill and vice-captained by Rishabh Pant, departed from Mumbai for England on Friday. As they prepared to leave, Pant couldn’t resist poking fun at his former captain.
When asked where Rohit was, Pant quipped, “He’s strolling in the garden.” The joke was a nod to a viral video of Rohit warning players not to wander into the garden. The video, which included some choice words from Rohit, had become a meme sensation.
Pant’s lighthearted comment sent the group into stitches. A fan asked if he’d miss the garden, and Pant chuckled, “Of course, we’ll miss it a lot.” The exchange showcased the camaraderie and humor within the team.
Rishabh Pant’s tweet was shared by Mufaddal Vohra, which read: “Rohit bhai Garden mein ghum rahe hain, unke Garden ki yaad to aayegi (He’s enjoying in the Garden, will miss his Garden).”
Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7. The BCCI subsequently named Shubman Gill as the new Test captain and Rishabh Pant as his deputy. The first Test match against England is scheduled for June 20. Before that, the Indian players will engage in an intra-squad match.
The Indian squad includes:
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- Rishabh Pant (vice-captain and wicketkeeper)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudarshan
- Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Karun Nair
- Nitish Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper)
- Washington Sundar
- Shardul Thakur
- Mohammad Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Akash Deep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav
With a new captain and vice-captain at the helm, the team is looking to make a strong impression in England. As they gear up for the Test series, the players are focused on the task ahead, but they’re also enjoying each other’s company.