Virat Kohli Honors Ajinkya Rahane's Retirement from International Cricket

Virat Kohli has shared a heartfelt tribute to Ajinkya Rahane following his retirement from international cricket. In an emotional Instagram post, Kohli celebrated Rahane's contributions to the sport, highlighting their partnership and Rahane's impressive career statistics. With nearly two decades in the game, Rahane leaves behind a legacy marked by significant victories and leadership moments. Discover more about Rahane's journey and Kohli's touching words in this article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 30, 2026, 23:50 IST

A Heartfelt Farewell from Kohli

In a touching gesture, Virat Kohli expressed his admiration for Ajinkya Rahane following the latter's announcement of his retirement from international cricket. Kohli took to Instagram to share his sentiments, referring to Rahane as his "favorite Test batting partner" and praising him as "the safest pair of hands in slips."

"Congratulations on an incredible career, Jinks. You have made significant contributions to Indian cricket, and your journey is something to be proud of. Always wishing you the best. God bless," Kohli wrote in his post, accompanied by a photo of the two players in their classic white Test uniforms.

Rahane's retirement was officially announced through an emotional video on Instagram, marking the end of a nearly two-decade-long career. Over 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. His T20 International (T20I) record includes 20 matches and 20 innings, totaling 375 runs, with one fifty and an average of 20.83.

Rahane also holds an impressive record as a Test captain, with four victories, two draws, and the highest win percentage for any Indian Test captain with at least five matches. His leadership was pivotal during memorable victories, including the remarkable comeback in Melbourne and India's historic win 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 back in 2017.