Ajinkya Rahane Reflects on MS Dhoni's Leadership and His Own Cricket Journey

Rahane Discusses Dhoni's Composed Leadership Style

Ajinkya Rahane, the former Indian cricketer, shared insights about MS Dhoni's composed and approachable demeanor. He described Dhoni as a straightforward individual who kept his room open for teammates to gather and bond, while also setting clear boundaries when the door was closed. Rahane, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, made his debut in all formats under Dhoni's captaincy. He also played alongside Dhoni during their time with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2023 and 2024. "MS Dhoni is incredibly calm and down-to-earth, just like any regular person. His room was often filled with teammates, but once the door was shut, it was off-limits," Rahane mentioned during an episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast.

Staying Focused by Disconnecting from Social Media

Rahane revealed that he disconnects from social media during series to maintain his focus, a practice he adopted after receiving advice from Ben Stokes in 2017 while they were both playing in the IPL. He emphasized the importance of having a personal routine that includes watching shows, reading, spending time with family, and preparing for the next day to keep his mind refreshed. "I remove all social media apps during series. This is my personal strategy, not something anyone advises. I recall Ben Stokes suggesting I avoid social media back in 2017. Establishing a routine has helped me manage my time effectively when I’m in my room, whether it’s watching Netflix, reading, chatting with family, or ironing my clothes for the next day," he added.

A Look Back at Rahane's International Career

Recently, Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket through an emotional video on Instagram, concluding a nearly two-decade-long career.

In Test matches, Rahane participated in 85 games 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, he 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.