[Watch] "Rahane retire nahi hua hai" - Rohit Sharma's hilarious interaction with journalist after BGT 2024-25 3rd Test

India Test captain Rohit Sharma was asked about how he sees the future of the side in the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane at the post-match press conference after the third Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test.

Pujara and Rahane have both been out of the Indian Test team for a while now, while Ashwin just recently announced his retirement. When quizzed about the same, Rohit cheekily replied:

"Abhi aap ko left ya right mai dekhna hai toh yeh log nahi rahenge. By the way Ajinkya Rahane retire nahi hua hai. Aap mereko marwaoge yaar (Right now if you look left or right these people are not here. By the way Ajinkya Rahane has not retired. You guys will get me killed)," he hilariously stated as everyone present erupted in laughter.

"Mai aise bol raha hu ki yeh teeno (Ashwin, Pujara, and Rahane) retire hogaye. Pujara bhi retirement usne announce nahi kiye hai yaar. Aap log teeno ka naam liye isiliye bol raha hu (I am talking as though all three have retired. Pujara has also not announced his retirement. You guys took their names that is why I am telling this)," Rohit Sharma added.

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The door is not closed for anyone, says Rohit Sharma on Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane

In the same press conference, Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma also added that Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane can come back into the team and the door is not closed for anyone.

"Abhi nahi hai yaha pe left ya right dekhne mai abhi nahi hai but aage pata nahi aa sakte hai. Sirf Ash (Ashwin) nahi honge kyunki unhone officially announce kiya hai but baaki do log hai woh kabhi bhi aa sakte hai aur darwaza kisi ke liye band nahi hai (Right now if you look left or right they are not here but they can come anytime. Only Ashwin will not be there as he made an official announcement but the other two can come anytime and the door is not closed for anyone)," Rohit said regarding Pujara and Rahane.

Rahane last appeared in a Test for India against West Indies in Port of Spain in 2023 where he scored 8 runs in the first innings and did not bat in the second.

As for Pujara, the right-hander last played a Test for India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2023 against Australia at the Oval and has not been a part of the side ever since.