Ajinkya Rahane announces retirement from international cricket and all formats

Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats of the game with immediate effect, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished 15-year international career.

The 38-year-old Mumbai batter shared the news through an emotional video message on Instagram, captioned “Cap 278 signing off.”

“The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, we simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting, and I have always understood its importance. Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats,” Rahane said.

Rahane represented India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is between 2011 and 2023. He scored 5,077 runs in Tests at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries, 2,962 runs in ODIs at 35.26 with three hundreds, and 375 runs in T20Is.

One of the defining moments of his career came during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Standing in as captain for an injury-hit side after India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide, Rahane led the team to a memorable 2-1 series victory. Overall, he captained India in six Tests, winning four and drawing two.

Rahane last played for India during the Test series in the West Indies in July 2023. Despite falling out of national selection, he remained active in domestic cricket, leading Mumbai until the 2024-25 season, and recently captained Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

In his farewell message, Rahane expressed gratitude to the BCCI, Mumbai Cricket Association, teammates, coaches, family and fans. “While my chapter as an Indian cricketer comes to an end, my journey with the game doesn’t. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values the sport has taught me, and giving back to the game that has given me everything,” he added.