Ajinkya Rahane bids farewell to international cricket after glittering career

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Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane officially announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday, drawing the curtain on a career spanning nearly twenty years.

Rahane shared his decision via a heartfelt Instagram video, stating that the moment felt right to step away from international competition.

“The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance,” Rahane said.

“Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap,” he added.

Rahane emphasised that his primary focus throughout his career was placing the team and the nation first and operating with integrity.

“I lived by one simple rule. Always put my country and my team ahead of myself. I played this game with complete honesty and I have always believed that if your intent is right, the game will always take care of you,” the veteran cricketer said.

“Since the time I made my debut as a first-class cricketer, Indian cricket has grown tremendously and I feel so proud to have been a part of it over the last 20 years. While my chapter as an Indian cricketer comes to an end, my journey with the game doesn’t. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values this sport has taught me and giving back to the game that has given me everything,” he said.

He concluded his announcement by thanking the BCCI, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), coaches, teammates, IPL franchises, family, friends, and supporters across the world.

“And a very special thank you to all the cricket fans who supported me through every high and low. Ajinkya means unbeatable, but cricket has shown me defeat many times. As cricketers, we fail more often than we succeed. My team has lost matches. I have made mistakes, but there is one place where I was never defeated. And that was in your hearts. Thank you for your love, your faith and your support. Cap number 278, signing off,” Rahane concluded.

Ajinkya Rahane’s international record

Across his Test career, Rahane represented India in 85 matches and 144 innings, scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46 and a strike rate of 49.50, featuring 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries.

In One Day Internationals, he scored 2,962 runs across 90 matches and 87 innings at an average of 35.26 and a strike rate of 78.63, registering 3 centuries and 24 fifties. In 20 T20Is, he scored 375 runs at an average of 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29, with one half-century.

Rahane leaves behind an undefeated record as India’s Test captain, registering four victories and two draws, the highest win percentage among Indian Test leaders who captained a minimum of five matches.

His captaincy highlights include India’s historic 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy success in Australia, which included a famous comeback victory at Melbourne and a historic win at Australia’s fortress, the Gabba.

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