Ajinkya Rahane has retired from international cricket in all formats, marking the end of a successful career filled with grit, leadership and performances abroad. Rahane, with tears rolling down his cheeks, conveyed the retirement announcement in a social media video on Thursday, July 30, and said it is the perfect time to bid adieu. The former skipper of the Indian cricket team, known for his exceptional leadership that helped win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, has retired with the message “Cap 278 signing off.”
After representing India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is, Rahane said the decision was guided by timing. He explained that, “The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. I have always relied on timing in my batting and I have always understood its importance. Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats.”
Ajinkya Rahane’s Rise From Mumbai to India’s Test Captain
Rahane rose through the ranks of Mumbai’s domestic circuit following his first-class debut in 2007. His consistency over many years helped earn him selection for the Indian team, after which he made his Test debut against Australia in 2013. Overall, Rahane amassed 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46 with 12 hundreds and 26 fifties in Test cricket.
However, Rahane’s breakthrough came when he played in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in the season 2020-21. The Indian team made a record-low score of 36 runs and while Virat Kohli had to leave Australia due to some issues, Rahane led an injury-ravaged Indian team in the series. His magnificent performance in the form of a century at Melbourne Cricket Ground helped India come back into the series and won the series by winning the fourth test in Brisbane with a margin of 2-1. Later, despite losing his position in the team, he got recalled for the WTC final in 2023, where he was the leading run-getter for India in the match.
In the farewell note, Rahane said that he always gave the team precedence over himself and was proud of his contribution to Indian cricket for the last two decades. He thanked the BCCI, Mumbai Cricket Association, fellow players, coaching staff, IPL teams, his family, and fans. In future, Rahane wants to mentor the new crop of players coming up in cricket.
