Pujara hails Rahane's retirement: 'An honour sharing the dressing room'
Synopsis
Ajinkya Rahane's retirement closes the book on one of India's most celebrated overseas Test careers — 85 Tests, 12 centuries, and an unbeaten captaincy record that includes the iconic Gabba heist. Cheteshwar Pujara's tribute on X captures what that era meant: two batters, one dependable middle order, and a string of overseas victories that redefined India's away-game credibility.
Key Takeaways
Cheteshwar Pujara paid tribute to Ajinkya Rahane on 30 July after Rahane announced retirement from all formats of international cricket.
Rahane retired after a 12-year career comprising 85 Tests , 90 ODIs , and 20 T20Is .
In Tests, Rahane scored 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46 with 12 centuries , eight of which came overseas.
As Test captain, Rahane remained unbeaten — 4 wins and 2 draws from 6 matches .
Rahane's defining moment was captaining India to a 2-1 series win in Australia (2020-21) , including the historic Gabba victory .
Pujara's post on X described the shared dressing room experience as 'an honour.'
Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara on 30 July paid a heartfelt tribute to long-time Test partner Ajinkya Rahane, hours after Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats. Pujara called it a privilege to have shared the dressing room with one of India's most dependable Test cricketers over more than a decade of international cricket.
Pujara's Tribute on X
Pujara took to X to express his sentiments, writing: '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 will always fondly remember. Wishing you and the family the absolute best in this next chapter.'
The message underscored the deep bond the two batters built over years of batting together in India's middle order, often under pressure in testing overseas conditions.
A Partnership Forged Overseas
Pujara and Rahane were the twin pillars of India's Test middle order through much of the previous decade. Together, they featured in landmark series victories in England, Australia, New Zealand, and the West Indies, repeatedly rescuing the side from difficult positions with composure and resilience. Their partnerships became a defining feature of India's overseas Test success during that era.
Rahane's Career in Numbers
Rahane signed off from a 12-year international career spanning 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20 Internationals. In Test cricket, he accumulated 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries — eight of which came on foreign soil. He also scored 2,962 runs in ODIs. As Test captain, he remained unbeaten, winning four of his six matches and drawing the remaining two.
The Gabba Legacy
Rahane's career peak arrived during India's historic 2020-21 Test series triumph in Australia. Following the 36-run collapse in Adelaide and Virat Kohli's departure on paternity leave, Rahane assumed the captaincy and led an extraordinary 2-1 comeback. He anchored the turnaround with a century in Melbourne before overseeing the famous series-clinching victory at the Gabba in Brisbane — a result widely regarded as one of India's greatest Test achievements.
What Comes Next
With Rahane's retirement, an era of India's Test middle-order stability formally draws to a close. Both he and Pujara had gradually faded from the national setup in recent years, but their combined contribution to India's overseas Test record remains a benchmark for future generations. Rahane has not announced his next steps, though he continues to play domestic cricket.
Point of View
But it tends to overshadow the cumulative value Rahane and Pujara brought across a decade of overseas Tests — innings that rarely made highlight reels but repeatedly saved series. What goes unexamined is how the selectors managed the transition out of that era: both were dropped and recalled repeatedly, which disrupted middle-order continuity without a clear succession plan. India's current Test middle order is still searching for the same reliability Rahane and Pujara once provided almost automatically.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ajinkya Rahane retire from international cricket?
Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats on 30 July, bringing a 12-year career to a close. No specific reason beyond the natural conclusion of his international tenure has been stated publicly.
What were Ajinkya Rahane's career statistics?
Rahane played 85 Tests, scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46 with 12 centuries. He also featured in 90 ODIs (2,962 runs) and 20 T20 Internationals. As Test captain, he won four and drew two of his six matches.
What did Cheteshwar Pujara say about Rahane's retirement?
Pujara posted on X calling it 'an honour sharing the dressing room' with Rahane and congratulated him on 'a career you can be incredibly proud of.' He also wished Rahane and his family well for the next chapter.
What was Ajinkya Rahane's most famous moment as captain?
Rahane's defining captaincy came during the 2020-21 Test series in Australia, where he led India to a 2-1 comeback after the 36-run collapse in Adelaide. He scored a century in Melbourne and oversaw the series-clinching win at the Gabba in Brisbane.
How many overseas centuries did Ajinkya Rahane score?
Rahane scored 12 Test centuries in total, eight of which came outside India — underlining his reputation as one of India's most reliable batters in overseas conditions.
