NEW DELHI: Ajinkya Rahane never looked for fire. In an era dominated by class stroke makers and larger-than-life personalities, he has quietly built a reputation as one of India’s most reliable overseas bowlers and one of the country’s most respected leaders. On Thursday, the 38-year-old brought down the curtain on his international career, ending a journey that spanned more than a decade and produced some of Indian cricketthe most memorable moments. After playing 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is, Rahane finished with 8,414 international runs, 15 centuries and 51 half-centuries. However, the numbers only tell part of their story.“The reality of life is that everything has a beginning, and everything has an end. When that time comes, just respect it and move on. I have always relied on timing in my batting, and I have always understood its importance,” 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 extraordinary 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 battered team could compete, let alone win. Rahane stepped in as captain and led a depleted Indian team to a stunning 2-1 series win, one of the greatest triumphs in Indian cricket history.His century in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne not only saved 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 best in Indian cricket.
The overseas specialist
Rahane has earned a reputation for producing his best performances away from home. He became the first Indian batsman to score his first Test and ODI centuries in SENA countries, proving his ability to thrive in the toughest conditions.His 12 Test hundreds have often come in pressure situations, and remarkably, India have never lost a Test whenever Rahane has 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 batsman to score centuries in both innings of a Test while batting at No. 5 or lower.
Rather than a boat
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 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 to domestic cricket. He guided Mumbai to their 42nd Ranji Trophy title, a record that extends into the 2023-24 season, showing that his leadership qualities remained intact.
A true farewell to his personality
Rahane’s retirement message reflects the humility that has defined his career.“From those early days, traveling from Dombivali as a child, just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap.”He also highlighted the values that shaped him as a cricketer.“I live by one rule, I only support my country and my team before myself. I play 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 that his association with cricket is far from over.“While my chapter, as an Indian cricketer, is coming to an end, my journey with the game is not. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values, the sport has taught me, and giving back to the game that gave 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 sums up his relationship with Indian fans.“My team lost games. I made mistakes, but there is one place where I was never defeated, and that was in your heart. You always treated me as your own. Thank you for your love. Your faith, and your support. Cap number 278, signing off.”