Veteran Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished career that spanned nearly two decades.
Rahane shared the announcement through an emotional video on Instagram, saying he felt the time was right to bid farewell to international cricket after proudly representing India across all three formats.
‘Everything Has a Beginning and an End’
Explaining his decision, Rahane reflected on the importance of timing—both in cricket and in life.
“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.”
He added:
“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.”
‘Country Always Came First’
Rahane said representing India remained the greatest honour of his career and that he always placed the team above personal milestones.
“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.”
Proud to Have Witnessed Indian Cricket’s Growth
Looking back on his journey, Rahane expressed pride in having witnessed the remarkable rise of Indian cricket during his career.
“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.”
Although his international career has ended, Rahane said his association with cricket will continue as he hopes to mentor and inspire the next generation of players.
“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.”
Emotional Farewell to Fans
Rahane expressed gratitude to the BCCI, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), teammates, coaches, IPL franchises, family, friends, and millions of fans who stood by him throughout his career.
In an emotional closing message, he said:
“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’s International Career in Numbers
Rahane leaves behind an impressive international record across formats:
Test Cricket
- Matches: 85
- Runs: 5,077
- Average: 38.46
- Centuries: 12
- Fifties: 26
One-Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Matches: 90
- Runs: 2,962
- Average: 35.26
- Centuries: 3
- Fifties: 24
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
- Matches: 20
- Runs: 375
- Average: 20.83
- Fifty: 1
An Unbeaten Test Captain
Rahane’s legacy extends beyond his batting. As India’s Test captain, he maintained an unbeaten record, leading the team in six Tests, winning four and drawing two.
His captaincy is best remembered for the historic 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. After India’s heavy defeat in Adelaide, Rahane led a remarkable turnaround, guiding the team to memorable victories in Melbourne and the Gabba, where India ended Australia’s long unbeaten streak and clinched the series 2-1.
He also captained India to a crucial Test victory against Australia in Dharamshala in 2017 and led the side to victory over Afghanistan in 2018.
Rahane retires as one of India’s most dependable overseas batters, a calm leader under pressure, and a respected figure whose contributions to Indian cricket will be remembered for years to come.
