New Delhi, 30 July (H.S.):

India's experienced batsman Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing an end to his more than two-decade-long journey in the sport.

One of India's most dependable Test batsmen, Rahane shared an emotional video message on his official Instagram account, announcing his decision to step away from international cricket and all formats of the game.

In his message, Rahane said, The truth of life is that every beginning has an end. When that moment arrives, it should be respected and one should move forward. In batting, I have always believed in the importance of timing and understood its value. Today, I feel this is the right time to move ahead and retire from international cricket as well as all formats of the game.

Recalling his journey, he said, From travelling from Dombivli as a young boy for practice sessions to wearing the India cap, I have given everything to this sport. Every day, every innings and every opportunity to bat was a dream of representing India. I always followed one principle — the country and the team would always come before me. I played cricket with complete honesty and always believed that if your intentions are right, the game supports you.

Rahane said it was a privilege to witness the growth of Indian cricket over the past two decades. Since making my first-class debut, Indian cricket has made tremendous progress in the last 20 years, and being a part of this journey has been a matter of great pride for me. Although my chapter as an Indian cricketer has come to an end, my association with the game will continue. I now want to help the next generation, share the values I have learned from this sport and give something back to cricket, which has given me everything.

Expressing gratitude, Rahane thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Mumbai Cricket Association, teammates, coaches, IPL franchises, his wife Radhika, family members, friends and fans. He said, My career had victories and defeats, and I made mistakes too, but there is one place where I never lost — the hearts of all of you. You always considered me one of your own. Thank you for your love, trust and support. Cap number 278, now takes a bow.

A Memorable Career for Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane's cricketing journey began in Mumbai, where he caught the attention of national selectors after scoring more than 1,000 runs in his second Ranji Trophy season. He made his Test debut in 2013 and soon established himself with remarkable performances in Durban and Wellington.

His memorable 103-run innings at Lord's in 2014 played a crucial role in India's historic victory at the venue after 28 years. He later scored centuries in Melbourne, Colombo and Delhi and delivered several important performances during overseas tours.

One of the defining moments of Rahane's career came during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2020, where his century became one of India's most celebrated Test innings. His knock played a key role in India's historic Test series victory in Australia.

After being dropped from the national team in 2022, Rahane made a strong comeback through domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), earning a place in India's squad for the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final. In the final against Australia, he top-scored for India in the first innings with an 89-run knock, which also turned out to be his final international appearance. He also captained Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2026.

Rahane's Career at a Glance

Rahane represented India in 195 international matches, including 85 Tests, 90 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals.

In Test cricket, he scored 5,077 runs in 85 matches and 144 innings, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries. In limited-overs cricket, he accumulated 2,962 runs in 90 ODIs and 375 runs in 20 T20 Internationals.

Rahane also enjoyed a long and successful IPL career. He played 212 IPL matches, represented six different franchises and produced several memorable innings with his technical batting ability and experience.

Ajinkya Rahane will always be remembered in Indian cricket as a calm, composed and team-oriented batsman who played a vital role in several historic overseas victories and won the admiration of millions of cricket fans through his performances and conduct.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar