Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing an end to a career that included 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, 20 T20Is and 212 IPL appearances. The former India captain made the announcement on Thursday through a video statement shared on Instagram, saying he felt the time was right to move on from international cricket and all formats of the game.
Ajinkya Rahane Announces Retirement
Rahane’s decision marks the end of a two-decade journey in Indian cricket. The Mumbai batter made his first-class debut before breaking into India’s Test side during the home series against Australia in 2013. He went on to become an important middle-order batter, particularly in overseas conditions.
In his international career, Rahane scored 5,077 Test runs at an average of 38.46. He made 12 Test centuries, with eight of those hundreds coming away from home. His overseas centuries included one each in England and New Zealand, along with two each in Australia, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
“Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats.”
Rahane’s Memorable Test Captaincy in Australia
One of the defining chapters of Rahane’s career came during India’s 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in Australia. After India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide, the team recovered under Rahane’s captaincy and completed a memorable Test series triumph.
Rahane captained India in six Tests during his career and won four of them. His leadership during the Australia series became one of the most significant highlights of his international career.
Reflecting on his journey, Rahane said he had always prioritised India and the team above himself. He also expressed pride in being part of Indian cricket’s growth over the past 20 years and made it clear that although his chapter as an Indian cricketer had ended, his association with the sport would continue.
Ajinkya Rahane’s White-Ball Career
Rahane represented India in three World Cups during his international career. He played at the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups and was part of India’s squad for the 2015 ODI World Cup.
His final T20I appearance came against the West Indies in Lauderhill in 2016, while his last ODI appearance was in February 2018. Despite eventually moving away from international white-ball cricket, Rahane continued to have a long career in the Indian Premier League.
Rahane’s Long IPL Career
Rahane featured in the inaugural IPL season in 2008 and played in the tournament through 2026, missing only the 2010 season. Across his IPL career, he represented six teams and played 212 matches.
His strongest IPL returns came with Rajasthan Royals. He scored 560 runs during the 2012 season and followed that with another 500-plus run campaign in 2015 for the franchise.
In the 2026 season, Rahane captained Kolkata Knight Riders and scored 335 runs. His career IPL tally finished at 5,367 runs.
MCA President Ajinkya Naik Reacts to Rahane’s Retirement
Mumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik paid tribute to Rahane following the retirement announcement. Naik highlighted the former India captain’s dedication, composure under pressure and commitment to excellence, describing him as one of Mumbai cricket’s finest ambassadors.
“Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian cricket.”
Naik also said Rahane’s legacy would continue to inspire future generations of cricketers.
Rahane Looks Ahead After Retirement
Although Rahane has retired from all forms of cricket, he indicated that his journey with the sport is not over. He said he wants to help the next generation, share the values he has learned through cricket and give back to the game.
Rahane also thanked the BCCI, MCA, his teammates, coaches, IPL franchises, family, friends and supporters for standing by him throughout his career. He reserved a special message for cricket fans who supported him through both successful and difficult periods.
With his retirement, Rahane leaves behind a career defined by international experience, overseas Test performances, leadership and a memorable role in India’s historic 2020-21 series victory in Australia.
Source: Mumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik’s reaction and Ajinkya Rahane’s Instagram video statement, as provided in the source material.
