Rohit Sharma Pays Tribute to Ajinkya Rahane Following Retirement Announcement

Ajinkya Rahane has officially announced his retirement from international cricket, prompting a heartfelt tribute from former captain Rohit Sharma. In a touching message, Sharma celebrated their years together and acknowledged Rahane's dedication and professionalism. Rahane's career spanned nearly two decades, during which he achieved significant milestones in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. His captaincy record is particularly noteworthy, featuring historic victories against Australia. This article delves into Rahane's impressive statistics and the impact he made on Indian cricket.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 31, 2026, 04:57 IST

Rohit Sharma's Heartfelt Tribute

Rohit Sharma, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, expressed a touching tribute to Ajinkya Rahane, reflecting on their shared experiences in the dressing room. He highlighted Rahane's dedication, discipline, and professionalism that characterized his cricketing journey after Rahane declared his retirement from international cricket.

Sharma commended his teammate's significant contributions to Indian cricket and extended his best wishes for Rahane's future endeavors. In a post on X, he stated, "We've shared the dressing room for so many years, and I know how much hard work has gone into everything you've achieved. Your commitment and professionalism have always set you apart. Congratulations on a wonderful career. Best wishes!"

Ajinkya Rahane Announces His Retirement

On Thursday, Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket through an emotional video on Instagram, marking the end of a nearly two-decade-long career.

Ajinkya Rahane's Career Statistics

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Centuries	Fifties	Average	Strike Rate
Tests	85	144	5,077	12	26	38.46	49.50
ODIs	90	87	2,962	3	24	35.26	78.63
T20Is	20	20	375	0	1	20.83	113.29

In his Test career, Rahane participated in 85 matches, accumulating 5,077 runs with an average of 38.46. In ODIs, he played 90 matches, scoring 2,962 runs at an average of 35.26. His T20I statistics include 20 matches with 375 runs.

Rahane's Captaincy Achievements

Ajinkya Rahane maintained an unbeaten record as a Test captain, achieving four victories and two draws, boasting the highest win percentage among Indian Test captains with a minimum of five matches. His leadership included a remarkable comeback win in Melbourne and a historic victory at the Gabba, which ended Australia's long-standing unbeaten streak during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India triumphed 2-1.

Additionally, he led India to a significant Test victory against Australia in Dharamshala in 2017.