India batter Ajinkya Rahane announces retirement from all forms of cricket
Ajinkya Rahane, a prominent batter for India, has declared his retirement from all formats of cricket, concluding a career that spanned over a decade. Rahane made the announcement through a video message shared on his social media, stating that the timing felt right to move on from international cricket.
Rahane represented India in 195 international matches across Test, One-Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20I) formats. He established himself as a dependable batter for the country.
A distinguished Test career
Rahane’s most notable contributions came in Test cricket, where he played 85 matches. In this format, he accumulated 5,077 runs, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties, at an average of 38.46. His final appearance for India in a Test match was against the West Indies in 2023.
Among his significant achievements, Rahane was the highest scorer for India in the first innings of both the 2021 and 2023 ICC World Test Championship Finals. In the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 against Australia, he top-scored in the first innings with 89 runs.
Rahane also played a crucial leadership role, serving as vice-captain for an extended period. He famously led an injury-affected Indian team to a comeback Test series victory over Australia in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, securing a 2-1 win.
Reflecting on his decision, Rahane mentioned, “The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, we simply have to respect it and move forward.” He added, “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.”
Contributions in limited-overs cricket
In One-Day Internationals, Rahane participated in 90 matches over a seven-year career, having made his debut in 2011. He scored 2,962 runs in ODIs, which included three centuries and 24 fifties, at an average of 35.26. He was an integral part of India’s campaign in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015, where the team reached the semi-finals. During this tournament, Rahane scored 208 runs across eight innings.
Rahane’s international debut was in T20 Internationals. He played 20 matches in this format, accumulating 375 runs. His career with the national squad began in 2013.
Continued involvement in cricket
Despite his retirement from international cricket, Rahane has remained active in the domestic circuit. He led Mumbai until the 2024-25 season. Rahane captained Mumbai to their 42nd Ranji Trophy title victory in the 2023-24 season, where they defeated Vidarbha in the final match.
Rahane has also indicated his intention to stay connected with the sport through commentary. He stated, “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.” Rahane, who is 38 years old, had not played for India since the 2023 Test tour to the West Indies.
Source: icc-cricket.com
Priya Menon 