New Delhi: Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a memorable career that spanned all three formats. The 38 year old made the announcement through a heartfelt video on social media, saying the time had come to step away from representing India.
Rahane reflected on his journey from his early days travelling from Dombivli for cricket practice to fulfilling his dream of wearing the India jersey. He said every opportunity to represent the country was cherished and that he always placed the team above personal milestones. Calling timing one of the most important aspects of batting, Rahane said he believes this is the right moment to move forward from international cricket.
His final appearance for India came during the 2023 tour of the West Indies. Across an impressive international career, Rahane featured in 85 Tests, 90 One Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals. He scored 5,077 Test runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries and 26 half centuries, establishing himself as one of India’s dependable middle order batters. In ODIs, he amassed 2,962 runs, with three centuries and 24 fifties, while adding 375 runs in the T20I format.
Although his international journey has ended, Rahane made it clear that his association with cricket will continue. He expressed his desire to mentor and support the next generation of players, sharing the lessons and values the sport has taught him throughout his career.
The Mumbai stalwart also thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Mumbai Cricket Association, his teammates, coaches, IPL franchises, family, friends and fans for their unwavering support. He said that while cricket brought both victories and setbacks, the love and faith shown by supporters remained his greatest achievement.
Despite being out of India’s selection plans in recent years, Rahane continued to contribute in domestic cricket and led Mumbai until the 2024-25 season, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, leadership and commitment to Indian cricket.
