Our Bureau
Mumbai
Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtains down on a career that spanned more than a decade and featured some of Indian cricket’s most memorable overseas triumphs. The 38-year-old made the announcement through a heartfelt social media post, saying the “timing is right” for him to move on from the international stage.
Rahane leaves the game as one of India’s most dependable Test batters, having represented the country in 85 Tests, 90 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals. He amassed 5,077 runs in Tests, including 12 centuries, besides scoring 2,962 ODI runs with three hundreds. His last international appearance came during India’s tour of the West Indies in July 2023.
The Mumbai batter’s defining moment came during India’s historic 2020-21 Test tour of Australia. After India suffered a crushing defeat in Adelaide and regular captain Virat Kohli returned home, Rahane took charge of a depleted side and led it to a remarkable 2-1 series victory, widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in Indian Test cricket. His century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Boxing Day Test remains one of the standout innings of his career.
Known for his calm temperament, reliable slip fielding and ability to deliver in challenging overseas conditions, Rahane earned widespread respect from teammates and opponents alike. Following his retirement announcement, tributes poured in from across the cricket fraternity, with former players praising his leadership, professionalism and invaluable contributions to Indian cricket.
Although Rahane has stepped away from international cricket, he is expected to remain active in domestic and franchise cricket. His retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, with fans remembering him as the understated leader who guided India to one of its finest Test series victories abroad.