As India's Test squad left for England on Thursday, June 5, for their highly anticipated five-match series from June 20, one scene outside the airport in Mumbai attracted the attention of all. Rishabh Pant, who had made his return to international cricket and has been appointed vice-captain for the series, was welcomed by fans and paparazzi. When quizzed about Rohit Sharma's whereabouts, Pant replied with a mischievous smile, "Woh garden mein ghoom rahe hain" (He's walking in the garden), alluding to Rohit's now-famous stump mic moment.

Pant's quick wit had the immediate effect of making fans and media laugh. The comment lightheartedly nodded towards Rohit's unavailability in the red-ball context after his Test cricket retirement.

Rohit Sharma's retirement marks the end of a glorious chapter in Indian Test cricket history. He scored 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57 with 12 hundreds—all in Indian victories. His six-hitting prowess brought him second only to Virender Sehwag among Indian batsmen, with 88 sixes in the longest format of the game. As captain, Rohit has led India in 24 Tests, winning 12, losing nine, and drawing three.

Shubman Gill and Pant to captain India's new Red-Ball era

With Rohit's departure, the Indian Test team is in a transition phase. Shubman Gill has been given the responsibility of captaincy, and Rishabh Pant takes on the vice-captain role. The two now hold the responsibility of taking India forward during the post-Kohli, post-Rohit, and post-Ashwin era—a significant generational change for the team.
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Question - where is Rohit Sharma?

Rishabh Pant - Rohit bhai Garden mein ghum rahe hain, unke Garden ki yaad to aayegi (He's enjoying in the Garden, will miss his Garden). 😂❤️pic.twitter.com/a5x4tlAeYq

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 6, 2025

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While Rohit will not be spotted in whites anymore, his legacy lives on through performances and moments that breathed fire into the imagination of fans. From being at the helm of Mumbai Indians in the IPL to topping the 2025 season with 418 runs, Rohit is a giant in Indian cricket even if, as Pant joked, he's merely "roaming in the garden" now.