Ajinkya Rahane's Retirement: A Tribute from Coach Pravin Amre
Pravin Amre Reflects on Rahane's Legacy
Pravin Amre, a former Indian cricketer and long-time coach of Ajinkya Rahane, expressed his admiration for the veteran batter following Rahane's announcement of his retirement from international cricket. Rahane shared an emotional video on Instagram on Thursday, marking the conclusion of his nearly two-decade-long career.
In a conversation with a news outlet, Amre reminisced about his journey with Rahane, which began during the batter's Under-17 days and extended through his debut for the Mumbai Ranji team and his international appearances. "I will certainly miss him. My association with Ajinkya spans 18 years. I have witnessed his entire journey, from his Under-17 days to his debut for Mumbai. While it's disheartening that we won't see him donning the Indian jersey or representing Mumbai anymore, I take immense pride in his contributions to Team India," Amre stated.
Rahane's Values and Future Prospects
Amre, who has coached numerous Indian cricketers, praised Rahane's dedication to the sport and his strong principles. "As a coach, working with him was a pleasure. He always respected the game and upheld strong values, which are crucial. I will miss him, but I believe his next chapter will be remarkable," he remarked.
Looking ahead, Amre believes that Rahane still has a couple of years of cricket left in him and could participate in various leagues globally. "As long as he maintains his fitness, it would be beneficial for him to continue playing. His extensive experience—85 Test matches and 200 IPL games with over 5,000 runs—will be invaluable. He could also excel as a commentator or coach. I hope he remains involved in the sport," Amre added.
Career Highlights of Ajinkya Rahane
Throughout his Test career, Rahane played 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 participated in 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 played 20 matches and 20 innings, accumulating 375 runs, with no centuries and one fifty, averaging 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29.
Remarkable Captaincy Achievements
Rahane boasted an unbeaten record as a Test captain, achieving four victories and two draws, which gave him the highest win percentage among Indian Test captains with at least five matches. His captaincy included a memorable comeback win in Melbourne and a historic victory at the Gabba, ending Australia's long-standing unbeaten streak at the venue during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India won 2-1.
He also led India to a significant Test victory against Australia in Dharamshala in 2017 and secured a win over Afghanistan in 2018.