Following England all-rounder Chris Woakes’ announcement of his retirement from international cricket, India’s wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant extended his best wishes to him. The 36-year-old decided to retire after being left out of England’s squad for the 2025-26 Ashes series.
Woakes’ retirement came after he missed selection for the Ashes in Australia, having suffered a dislocated shoulder in the fifth Test against India.
“Making my debut in 2011 in Australia feels like yesterday, but time flies when you’re having fun. Lifting two World Cups and being part of some incredible Ashes series is something I never imagined, and the memories and celebrations with my teammates will stay with me forever,” Woakes reflected in his retirement message.
Pleasure has been all mine. No regrets 🏴 pic.twitter.com/kzUKsnNehy
— Chris Woakes (@chriswoakes) September 29, 2025
Chris Woakes represented England in 217 matches across all formats since making his debut in 2011, claiming 396 wickets and scoring 3,705 runs. A vital member of England’s 2019 World Cup-winning team, he made significant contributions with both bat and ball, and later added a T20 World Cup title to his achievements with England in 2022.
“Give that bowling arm a rest… and my foot too,” says Rishabh Pant to Chris Woakes
Rishabh Pant took to X (formerly Twitter) to wish Chris Woakes well on his retirement. The two share a memorable on-field moment: when Rishabh Pant attempted a reverse sweep off Woakes’ delivery, he was struck on the foot, resulting in a fracture. Despite the injury, Pant returned to bat in the second innings in Manchester, contributing crucial runs for India.
Woakes, meanwhile, suffered an injury while defending a boundary. Like Rishabh Pant, he showed immense grit, coming out to bat with his arm in a sling during the Oval Test. However, he couldn’t prevent India from sealing victory on the final day.
Pant tweeted, “Happy Retirement, Woakesy. You’ve been amazing on the field—full of discipline, always smiling, and spreading good vibes. Now you can finally give that bowling arm a rest… and my foot too! You definitely left your mark on me before retirement. Wishing you a fantastic journey ahead in whatever you choose.”
On the other hand, Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of India’s upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies at home, as he has yet to fully recover from his foot fracture. His participation in the white-ball tour of Australia is also uncertain, with a likely return expected for the home series against South Africa in late November–December.
