Vikrant Massey hails Ajinkya Rahane as Rahul Dravid's true heir
Synopsis
Vikrant Massey's Instagram tribute to Ajinkya Rahane did more than mark a retirement — it framed a career in a single line: the only true heir to Rahul Dravid. For a player who captained India to one of their greatest overseas Test wins yet quietly faded from the XI, it is perhaps the most fitting epitaph.
Key Takeaways
Vikrant Massey posted an Instagram tribute to Ajinkya Rahane on 31 July , calling him the only true heir to Rahul Dravid .
Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket with the caption 'Cap 278 signing off.' Rahane represented India in 85 Tests , 90 ODIs , and 20 T20Is , and played 212 IPL matches across six franchises .
He scored 5,077 Test runs including 12 centuries and 26 fifties across 144 innings .
Rahane famously led India to a Border-Gavaskar Trophy series win in Australia in 2020-21 .
His last India appearance was the 2023 Test series against the West Indies .
Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey has paid tribute to retired Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane, calling him the only true heir to legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid — a comparison that, in Indian cricket's vocabulary, carries the highest possible weight. Massey's tribute came a day after Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket on 31 July.
Massey's Tribute on Instagram
Taking to Instagram, Massey posted a heartfelt note in which he said 'Indian cricket is richer because you wore its colours.' The actor praised Rahane's selflessness, temperament, and quiet dignity — qualities that defined a career spanning nearly 12 years at the international level.
'Some players leave behind records. Others leave behind a standard. You played for the team before yourself, met triumph with humility and setbacks with quiet dignity, and reminded us that character can be as inspiring as talent,' Massey wrote.
He added: 'You've been the only true heir to Rahul Dravid, and that alone is enough for the world to be indebted to you. In an age where visibility is often mistaken for value, you proved that true talent needs no PR campaign.'
Rahane's Retirement Announcement
Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement by sharing a video on social media with the caption: 'Cap 278 signing off. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. Forever grateful.' The understated farewell was entirely in keeping with the man — no fanfare, no spectacle.
Rahane made his India debut in 2011 during the tour of England and went on to represent the country in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is. He also appeared in 212 IPL matches across six franchises.
Career Highlights and Statistics
In Test cricket, Rahane scored 5,077 runs across 144 innings, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties. He also amassed 2,962 runs in ODI cricket. His Test debut came in 2013, and he went on to become one of India's most dependable middle-order batters of his generation.
His defining moment as a leader arrived during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, when he captained India to a famous series victory after Virat Kohli returned home. The win — completed at the Gabba — is widely regarded as one of India's greatest overseas Test triumphs.
What the Tribute Reflects
Massey's invocation of Rahul Dravid — himself a byword for selfless, team-first cricket — underscores how Rahane was perceived beyond numbers. Rahane last played for India in the 2023 Test series against the West Indies, and his absence from the national side in his final years did little to diminish the respect he commanded.
With Rahane's retirement, Indian cricket closes the chapter on a batter who embodied composure under pressure — a quality that will be difficult to replace in the middle order.
Point of View
Identifies the real gap Rahane leaves behind. The Dravid comparison is not hyperbole; it is a precise cultural shorthand for a certain kind of cricketer India has always struggled to value until he is gone. Rahane's exclusion from the national side after 2023, despite his Border-Gavaskar heroics, reflects a recurring Indian cricket pattern: rewarding match-winners in hindsight while overlooking temperament in selection. The retirement of a player who captained India to the Gabba with a depleted squad deserved a more formal send-off than a social media video — and that silence from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) says as much about institutional gratitude as any tribute does.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Vikrant Massey say about Ajinkya Rahane?
Vikrant Massey posted an Instagram tribute calling Rahane 'the only true heir to Rahul Dravid' and praising his selflessness, humility, and quiet dignity. He wrote that 'Indian cricket is richer because you wore its colours.'
When did Ajinkya Rahane retire from international cricket?
Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket on 31 July, sharing a video on social media with the caption 'Cap 278 signing off. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. Forever grateful.'
What are Ajinkya Rahane's international cricket statistics?
Rahane played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is for India. In Tests, he scored 5,077 runs in 144 innings with 12 centuries and 26 fifties. He also scored 2,962 runs in ODI cricket and featured in 212 IPL matches across six franchises.
What was Ajinkya Rahane's biggest achievement as captain?
Rahane's most celebrated moment as captain was leading India to a Border-Gavaskar Trophy series win in Australia in 2020-21, including the historic victory at the Gabba, after Virat Kohli returned home. It is widely regarded as one of India's finest overseas Test series wins.
When did Ajinkya Rahane last play for India?
Rahane last represented India during the 2023 away Test series against the West Indies. He made his international debut in 2011 on the England tour and his Test debut in 2013.
