Ajinkya Rahane has brought the curtain down on his international cricket journey, confirming his retirement from all formats of the game. The veteran batter shared the news through an emotional video message posted to his social media, thanking fans for their support throughout his career.
A Career Spanning Over a Decade
Rahane represented India in 195 international matches across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He was best known for his composure and reliability in the Test format, where he played 85 matches and scored more than 5,000 runs, including 12 centuries. Some of his most memorable innings came away from home, with hundreds in tough overseas conditions in Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand.
His final appearance for India came in the 2023 World Test Championship Final against Australia at The Oval, where he top-scored for his side in the first innings.
Leading India to a Historic Win Down Under
One of the defining moments of Rahane’s career came during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Stepping in as stand-in captain after India’s heavy defeat in the series opener, he steadied the side and led them to a famous series victory, one of the most celebrated achievements in recent Indian cricket history.
Life Beyond the National Team
Even after losing his place in the Indian Test side following the 2023 WTC final, Rahane remained active in domestic and franchise cricket. He recently stepped down as captain of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy team and led Kolkata Knight Riders through the IPL 2026 season.
A Grateful Farewell
In his retirement message, Rahane reflected on the natural cycle of beginnings and endings in life and career, expressing gratitude to fans for their support throughout his journey. His farewell closed a chapter on one of Indian cricket’s most dependable middle-order batters of the last decade.
