Ajinkya Rahane Retires From International Cricket After 85 Tests for India

Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on an India career that spanned all three formats. He signed off in an emotional farewell video.

The numbers

Rahane played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is for India. He scored 5,077 runs in Tests, 2,962 in ODIs and 375 in T20Is, a combined tally that includes 15 centuries and 51 fifties. Test cricket was where he left his deepest mark, though he also featured in the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups, the 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy squads. He played in the first two World Test Championship finals, in 2021 and 2023.

The Australia series

His defining chapter came in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India were heavily beaten in the Adelaide Test, and Virat Kohli then returned home on paternity leave, leaving Rahane to take over as captain. He led a notable fightback, and his century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground set the platform for one of India’s finest overseas Test series wins.

In all, Rahane captained India in six Tests, winning four and drawing two, so he never lost as Test skipper.

Still playing franchise cricket

Rahane will carry on in franchise cricket and currently captains Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Reports suggest, however, that KKR could look at a new captain if they manage to sign Hardik Pandya from Mumbai Indians before the next season.

He departs with a reputation for resilience, calm and leadership, and his efforts in Australia remain one of the most celebrated episodes in Indian cricket.