Rishabh Pant pokes fun at Chris Woakes with cheeky retirement message, Gambhir calls all-rounder 'man with iron will'

Rishabh Pant and Gautam Gambhir pay tribute to England cricketer Chris Woakes. (Photo: X)

India's star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant congratulated England's Chris Woakes for his brilliant career with a hilarious message on X (formerly Twitter). Woakes announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday (September 29). He made his decision after not getting selected for the Ashes following his shoulder dislocation in the fifth and final Test against India.

Pant wished Woakes a happy retirement and hilariously asked him to rest his bowling arm which injured the India player with a yorker in the Manchester Test.

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"Happy Retirement Woakesy. You have been amazing on the field. Lots of discipline, a big smile and always good vibes. Now you can finally give that bowling arm a rest and my foot too. You definitely left a mark on me before retirement. Wishing you a fantastic journey ahead in whatever you choose," Pant wrote on social media.

Happy Retirement Woakesy. You have been amazing on the field. Lots of discipline, a big smile and always good vibes. Now you can finally give that bowling arm a rest and my foot too
You definitely left a mark on me before retirement.
Wishing you a fantastic journey ahead

— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) September 30, 2025

Pant fractured his foot while attempting a sweep shot off a full-length from Woakes. Despite the injury, Pant got some valuable runs in the second innings. On the other hand, Woakes dislocated his shoulder while fielding in the final Test of the series.

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India head coach Gautam Gambhir also paid tribute to Woakes. Gambhir faced Woakes in his last Test series (Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy). The ex-India cricketer also said Woakes will be remembered as ‘one of the bravest’ to play the sport.

The man with an iron will! You will be remembered as one of the bravest to ever walk the field Chris! @chriswoakes pic.twitter.com/bnaCi31GSa

— Gautam (@GautamGambhir) September 29, 2025

“The man with an iron will! You will be remembered as one of the bravest to ever walk the field Chris! @chriswoakes" Gambhir wrote on X.