Senior India batsman Ajinkya Rahane has declared his retirement from international cricket, capping off a career in which he played in 20 T20Is, 90 ODIs, and 85 Tests for India, as well as 212 IPL matches for six clubs.
Ajinkya Rahane, who last played for India in the 2023 away Test series against the West Indies, is well-known for guiding the team to a stunning Border Gavaskar Trophy series triumph in Australia in 2020–21.
He released a video on social media with the remark “Cap 278 signing off” to announce his resignation. I am grateful for all of your support over the years. I’ll never forget it.
The truth of existence is that everything has a beginning and an end. It’s just a matter of respecting it and continuing when the moment arrives. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance. I believe the time is ripe for me to move on and declare my retirement from international cricket and all forms today. Rahane, who played on the domestic circuit and led Mumbai until the 2024-25 season, said in a video, “From those early days, traveling from Dombivli as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. ”
During the tour of England in 2011, Ajinkya Rahane played his first match for India, and he also has 2962 runs in ODIs. In 144 innings of his Test debut in 2013, he scored 5077 runs with 12 hundreds and 26 fifties.
Every day, every inning, every chance I had to bat, I always aspired to don the India cap. My one uncomplicated rule was to prioritize my nation and my squad above myself. I played this game with utmost integrity and always held the conviction that if one’s intention is pure, the game will always look out for them.
Since I started playing first-class cricket, Indian cricket has come a long way, and I’m very proud to have been involved in it for the past two decades, he continued.
“Although my chapter as an Indian cricketer is over, my adventure with the game is not,” he said. I’m eager to help the next generation, share the values I’ve learned from this sport, and give back to the game that has given me everything. From a young player in Mumbai to representing India, it has been a true privilege. Although there have been many successes and failures throughout the course of my career, the immense pleasure I have received from playing cricket, being a member of several teams, and making unforgettable memories has been my greatest fulfillment.
Since the IPL’s inaugural season in 2008, Rahane has been involved. Rajasthan Royals was Rahane’s team from 2011 until 2015. Rahane played for the Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016 and 2017 while RR was outlawed.
Prior to joining Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022, Ajinkya Rahane was moved to Delhi Capitals in preparation for IPL 2020. When Chennai Super Kings, his sixth IPL franchise, won the trophy in IPL 2023, Rahane’s IPL career received a boost. Rahane also won his first IPL championship.
After Shreyas Iyer, who was kept on as KKR captain for IPL 2026, left, KKR purchased him once again for Rs 1. 5 crore for a second stint before IPL 2025 and made him the captain.
Despite the fact that Ajinkya means unbeatable, cricket has taught me how to lose several times. We fail more often than we succeed as cricketers. My team has lost games. I’ve made mistakes, but your hearts were the one place I was never conquered. I appreciate your trust, love, and support. He ended by saying, “This is Cap 278, signing out. “