Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane recently shared a hilarious story about his former teammate Cheteshwar Pujara, recalling how the veteran batter was not particularly keen on returning to the field after completing his innings in Test matches. Speaking during Sony Sports Network’s coverage of the India vs Sri Lanka Test series, Rahane revealed that younger members of the Indian team were often asked to field in close-in positions whenever Pujara opted to rest after batting.
Rahane himself was among those who occasionally stepped in, including at the challenging short-leg position. “When he played, and I was the 12th man, whenever he came after his batting, bhaisahab ko fielding nahi karni hoti thi. 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,” Ajinkya Rahane recalled.
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The story offered a glimpse into the lighter side of life inside the Indian dressing room. Rahane and Pujara were key members of India’s Test setup for several years, forming part of the team’s middle-order core during a successful period in red-ball cricket.
Ajinkya Rahane opens up about Cheteshwar Pujara’s unmatched dedication to Test cricket and the passion that kept him going. ✨
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Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on August 24, 2025, ending an illustrious Test career with 7,195 runs in 103 matches. Rahane, meanwhile, finished his Test career with 5,077 runs from 85 matches before retiring from professional cricket.
Rahane has since moved into a new role as a cricket broadcaster. The former India vice-captain joined the commentary panel for the ongoing two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka, with Pujara also part of the broadcast team.
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On the field, India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening Test at Galle. India posted an imposing 462, powered by Devdutt Padikkal’s magnificent 167 off 230 balls. KL Rahul added 82 from 175 deliveries, while Dhruv Jurel contributed a valuable 51. Sri Lanka continued their fightback during the final session of Day 3, reaching 273/7 after 77 overs but still trailing India by 189 runs.
