Ajinkya Rahane Retires: Tributes from Cheteshwar Pujara and PV Sindhu
Ajinkya Rahane Announces Retirement from International Cricket
New Delhi, July 30: Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara and Olympic champion PV Sindhu have extended their congratulations to Ajinkya Rahane following his announcement of retirement from international cricket.
Rahane shared an emotional video on Instagram on Thursday, marking the end of his nearly two-decade-long career in all formats of the game.
Pujara, who played alongside Rahane for many years, expressed his admiration and recalled the memorable moments they shared on the field. He wrote on X, “Congratulations on a career you can be incredibly proud of, Ajinkya! It has been an honour sharing the dressing room with you over the years; and building partnerships and memories on and off the field that I will always fondly remember. Wishing you and your family the absolute best in this next chapter.”
PV Sindhu also took to social media to commend Rahane, highlighting his resilience and performances under pressure. She stated, “Wishing you the happiest of retirements, Jinks! Your career has been a testament to courage, calmness, and some incredibly gritty innings in the toughest of conditions. That brilliant 103 at Lord's in 2014, in some of the most difficult circumstances, will always stand out. India were under pressure, the conditions were challenging, and you produced an innings filled with immense character and class. Wishing you a fabulous second innings, filled with happiness, success, and everything you love. Congratulations on a wonderful career!”
Rahane leaves behind an impressive legacy, boasting an unbeaten record as a Test captain with four victories, two draws, and the highest win percentage among Indian Test captains with at least five matches. His leadership was pivotal during memorable victories, including the remarkable comeback in Melbourne and the 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, Rahane led India to a significant Test victory against Australia in Dharamshala in 2017 and secured a win over Afghanistan in 2018.