Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Veteran Indian batter and former captain Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtains down on a memorable career that spanned all three formats of the game. Once considered a vital pillar of India’s batting line-up, Rahane had been out of the national team for a considerable period.
The 38-year-old cricketer made the announcement through an emotional video posted on social media on July 30, where he appeared visibly moved, with tears in his eyes as he thanked fans, teammates, coaches, and his family for their support throughout his journey.
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Rahane will forever be remembered for his remarkable leadership during India’s historic 2020–21 tour of Australia. After India suffered a humiliating collapse for 36 runs in Adelaide and regular captain Virat Kohli returned home on paternity leave, Rahane took charge under extremely challenging circumstances. He led a depleted Indian side to a stunning 2-1 series victory, helping India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and earning widespread praise for his calm and composed captaincy.
Born on June 6, 1988, in Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar), Maharashtra, Rahane was known for his elegant batting style and ability to perform in difficult overseas conditions. His contributions in Test cricket, particularly in Australia, England, and South Africa, remain among the highlights of his career.
Interestingly, the format in which Rahane began his international career — T20 Internationals — was also the one from which he was dropped the earliest. Despite making valuable contributions in the shortest format, he was not selected for India’s T20I side after 2016.
Although official records show that Rahane played his last international match in 2023 during the West Indies tour, he had effectively fallen out of the selectors’ long-term plans much earlier.
Rahane is currently active in franchise cricket and captained the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. While he steps away from international cricket, his legacy as one of India’s most dependable overseas performers and the captain who guided India to one of its greatest Test triumphs in Australia will continue to be celebrated by cricket fans around the world.
