'Rohit Sharma buzurg hain, isliye...': Yuzvendra Chahal breaks silence on India legend's violent act

Punjab Kings (PBKS) leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has spoken about the viral clip involving Rohit Sharma, where the opening batter jokingly hit him during an ODI against the West Indies. Chahal said he has known Rohit for many years and shares a close bond with him, similar to that of an elder brother.

The spinner is currently not in India’s selection plans, but he remains a key player for Punjab in the IPL. Notably, the franchise has retained him for IPL 2026 at a price of ₹18 crore. In 2025, Chahal took 16 wickets in 14 matches. Overall, he is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 221 wickets from 174 matches.

Maine Socha, Buzurg Hain, Toh Maaf Kar Deta Hoon Unhe - Yuzvendra Chahal on Rohit Sharma

In an interview with Mashable India on their YouTube channel, Yuzvendra Chahal recently said that the incident with Rohit Sharma happened during the West Indies tour in an ODI match. The leg-spinner added that the camera often makes Rohit’s jokes look bigger than they actually are.

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“That was during the West Indies tour. It was an ODI, and Virat bhaiya and Rohit bhai were resting in that match. I had also been resting for the entire previous series, and that moment was just for fun. I’ve known bhaiya since 2011, and we share a bond like that of a big brother," Chahal said.

"So he keeps joking around. It was all because of the camera. If the camera hadn’t been there, my inner Haryanvi Jaat would have come out. Then I thought (Maine socha, buzurg hain, toh maaf kar deta hoon unhe), ‘leave it, he’s an elder, so I’ll forgive him a little,’” he added.

Rohit Sharma and Yuzvendra Chahal's Viral Dugout Moment

The moment took place during the second ODI against the West Indies on July 29, 2023, when several Indian players were off the field and sitting in the dugout. As the cameras zoomed in, Rohit Sharma was seen playfully tapping Yuzvendra Chahal on the back, turning it into a light-hearted exchange.

Virat Kohli and Chahal were not part of the playing XI for that match, but they were clearly enjoying the atmosphere from the sidelines. Rohit continued joking with Chahal, while Kohli, seated next to them, burst out laughing at the scene.

The fun moment, captured live on television, went viral across social media. Fans enjoyed the relaxed mood among the players, with Kohli’s laughing reaction adding to the clip’s popularity.

You Can See a Big-Brother Figure in Rohit Sharma - Yuzvendra Chahal

During the same interaction, Yuzvendra Chahal shared more about Rohit Sharma’s personality, describing him as a caring and fun-loving senior in the team. Chahal added that while Rohit can look serious on the field at times, it is simply part of his nature as a leader, and he never speaks harshly to hurt anyone.

“He speaks with affection, and you can see a big-brother figure in him, the fun-loving kind. Of course, there are moments on the ground when he appears serious, but you know that’s just his nature. Yes, he never speaks to hurt anyone or to be mean. It’s just his affectionate way. That’s how we know him, and we actually like it. If he didn’t talk like that, it wouldn’t be as enjoyable,” Chahal stated.

Rohit is set to make his return to competitive action on Sunday, January 11, when India begin their ODI series against New Zealand with the opening match in Vadodara.

Also read: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma making Indian team atmosphere toxic? Shubman Gill drops bomb