NEW DELHI: Ajinkya Rahane never sought the spotlight. In an era dominated by classy stroke-makers and larger-than-life personalities, he quietly built a reputation as one of India’s most dependable overseas batters and one of the country’s most respected leaders. On Thursday, the 38-year-old brought the curtain down on his international career, ending a journey that spanned more than a decade and produced some of Indian cricket‘s most memorable moments. Having played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is, Rahane finished with 8,414 international runs, 15 centuries and 51 half-centuries. Yet, numbers only tell part of his story.“The reality of life is that everything has a beginning, and everything has an end. When that time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I always relied on timing in my batting, and I’ve always understood its important,” Rahane said in his retirement video.
The captain who conquered Australia
If there is one chapter that defines Rahane’s legacy, it is India’s remarkable 2020-21 Test series win in Australia.After India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide and Virat Kohli returned home on paternity leave, few believed the injury-hit side could compete, let alone win. Rahane stepped in as captain and led a depleted Indian team to a stunning 2-1 series victory, one of the greatest triumphs in Indian cricket history.His century in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne not only rescued India’s campaign but also made him the only Indian to score a Boxing Day Test hundred against Australia both as a player and as captain. Under his leadership, India never lost a Test match, making his captaincy record (6 matches with 4 wins and 2 draws) one of the finest in Indian cricket.
The overseas specialist
Rahane earned a reputation for producing his best performances away from home. He became the first Indian batter to score both his maiden Test and ODI centuries in SENA countries, proving his ability to thrive in the toughest conditions.His 12 Test hundreds often came in pressure situations, and remarkably, India never lost a Test whenever Rahane scored a century. He was also the first Indian to score a century in the World Test Championship, adding another milestone to an already impressive career.
India’s Ajinkya Rahane, left, is congratulated by Australia’s Steve Smith (Photo by AP/PTI)
One of his finest individual performances came against South Africa when he became the only Indian batter to score centuries in both innings of a Test while batting at No. 5 or lower.
More than just a batter
Rahane’s contributions extended beyond the bat. He remains the only Indian fielder to take eight catches in a Test match, highlighting his exceptional reflexes in the slips. Earlier in his career, he also announced himself in T20Is by scoring 61 on debut, the highest score by an Indian on T20I debut at the time.
Ajinkya Rahane from Mumbai (PTI Photo)
Despite falling out of the national team, Rahane continued to contribute in domestic cricket. He led Mumbai to their record-extending 42nd Ranji Trophy title in the 2023-24 season, showing that his leadership qualities remained intact.
A farewell true to his personality
Rahane’s retirement message reflected the humility that defined his career.“From those early days, travelling from Dombivali 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 also underlined the values that shaped him as a cricketer.“I lived by one single rule, only support my country and my team ahead of myself. I played this game with complete honesty, and I always believe that if your intent is right, the game will always take care of you.”
India’s Ajinkya Rahane (Photo by AP/PTI)
Looking ahead, Rahane made it clear his association with cricket is far from over.“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, the sport has taught me, and giving back to the game that has given me everything.”Perhaps the most emotional part of his farewell came when he reflected on failure and resilience. He said, “Ajinkya means unbeatable. But cricket has shown me defeat many times. As cricketers, we fail more often, then we succeed.”He signed off with a message that perfectly summed up his relationship with Indian fans.“My team has lost matches. I have made mistakes, but there is one place where I was never defeated, and that was in your heart. You always treated me like your own. Thank you for your love. Your faith, and your support. Cap number 278, signing off.”
