Mumbai: Veteran Indian batter and former Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished career that spanned more than a decade. The 38-year-old made the announcement through a heartfelt social media message on Thursday.
Rahane, who last represented India in 2023, said the time was right to move on from international cricket while expressing gratitude to his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their unwavering support throughout his journey.
End of an accomplished international career
Rahane featured in 85 Tests, 90 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals, scoring over 8,000 international runs across formats. He was widely regarded as one of India’s most dependable batters in overseas conditions and played several memorable knocks during his career.
His finest achievement came during the 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when he captained India to a historic Test series victory in Australia after regular captain Virat Kohli returned home on paternity leave. Rahane’s century in the Melbourne Test remains one of the defining moments of that remarkable campaign.
Franchise and domestic future remains open
While Rahane has retired from international cricket, reports indicate that he is expected to continue playing domestic and franchise cricket, having not announced retirement from those formats. He has also remained active in cricket through commentary assignments.
Rahane’s retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, with the elegant right-hander leaving behind a legacy built on composure, resilience and several match-winning performances in the longest format.