Sachin Tendulkar Honors Ajinkya Rahane's Remarkable Cricket Journey

Ajinkya Rahane's retirement from international cricket has prompted a heartfelt tribute from legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. In a touching message, Tendulkar praised Rahane's dedication and composure on the field, reflecting on their shared experiences as teammates. Rahane's impressive statistics and memorable captaincy moments, including historic victories against Australia, highlight his significant contributions to Indian cricket. As he embarks on a new chapter, Tendulkar wishes him all the best for the future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 30, 2026, 23:52 IST

A Heartfelt Farewell to Ajinkya Rahane

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 30: Iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar expressed his admiration for Ajinkya Rahane following the veteran batsman's announcement of his retirement from international cricket on Thursday.

Extending his best wishes for Rahane's future endeavors, Sachin praised his poise, determination, and steady demeanor on the cricket field.

In a message shared on X, the cricket legend stated, “Congratulations on an outstanding career, @ajinkyarahane88. When we first batted together for Mumbai, I recognized someone who never sought the spotlight. Instead, moments came to you because of your dedication to the team. That same trait shone during your remarkable performance in Australia. You demonstrated that composure is not the opposite of aggression; it often instills confidence in a team to play fearlessly. Congratulations on a fantastic career! Wishing you and your family all the best.”

It is worth noting that Sachin Tendulkar and Ajinkya Rahane shared the field as teammates for Mumbai in domestic cricket and also played together for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Rahane's Test career commenced on March 22, 2013, against Australia at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, where Tendulkar was present to encourage the debutant to cherish the moment.

Throughout his Test career, Rahane participated in 85 matches and 144 innings, amassing 5,077 runs, which included 12 centuries and 26 fifties, with an average of 38.46 and a strike rate of 49.50.

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he played 90 matches and 87 innings, scoring 2,962 runs, featuring 3 centuries and 24 fifties, with an average of 35.26 and a strike rate of 78.63. In T20 Internationals, Rahane appeared in 20 matches and 20 innings, accumulating 375 runs, with no centuries and one fifty, averaging 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29. He maintained an undefeated record as a Test captain, achieving four wins, two draws, and the highest win percentage for any Indian Test captain with a minimum of five matches.

His captaincy included a memorable comeback victory in Melbourne and a historic win at the Gabba, which ended Australia's long-standing unbeaten streak at that venue during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India triumphed 2-1.

Rahane also led India to a significant Test victory against Australia in Dharamshala in 2017 and secured a win over Afghanistan in 2018.