Virat Kohli Honors Ajinkya Rahane's Retirement with Heartfelt Message
Kohli's Tribute to Rahane
Star cricketer Virat Kohli expressed his admiration for Ajinkya Rahane following the latter's announcement of his retirement from international cricket. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Kohli referred to Rahane as his 'favorite Test batting partner' and praised him as 'the safest pair of hands in slips.'
"Jinks, congratulations on an incredible career, my friend. You have made significant contributions to Indian cricket, and you should take immense pride in your journey. Always wishing you the best. God bless," Kohli wrote, sharing a memorable photo of the two players in their classic white Test jerseys.
Rahane's Career Achievements
On Thursday, Rahane officially announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket through an emotional video on Instagram, concluding a remarkable career that lasted nearly two decades.
Rahane's Illustrious Career In Numbers
In 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. His One Day International (ODI) record includes 90 matches and 87 innings, where he scored 2,962 runs, featuring 3 centuries and 24 fifties, averaging 35.26 with a strike rate of 78.63. In T20 Internationals, he played 20 matches and scored 375 runs, with no centuries and one fifty, averaging 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29.
Remarkable Captaincy Record
Undefeated Test Captaincy Record
Rahane boasts an undefeated record as a Test captain, with four victories and two draws, achieving the highest win percentage among Indian Test captains with a minimum of five matches. His captaincy included a memorable comeback win in Melbourne and a historic victory 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. Additionally, he led India to a vital Test win against Australia in Dharamshala in 2017.