Ajinkya Rahane retires from all cricket: 85 Tests, a historic BGT win
Synopsis
Ajinkya Rahane — the man who led a battered India to one of cricket's greatest overseas upsets at the Gabba — has retired from all forms of the game. Cap 278 signs off with 85 Tests, a BGT triumph that rewrote what Indian cricket believed possible away from home, and a quiet dignity that outlasted every dip in form.
Key Takeaways
Ajinkya Rahane announced retirement from international cricket and all formats on 30 July , signing off as India cap number 278 .
He played 85 Tests , 90 ODIs , and 20 T20Is for India, scoring 5,077 Test runs including 12 centuries .
Rahane captained India to a 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia in 2020-21 , including the historic Gabba victory .
His last India appearance was in the 2023 Test series against the West Indies .
Rahane played 212 IPL matches for six franchises , winning his first IPL title with Chennai Super Kings in 2023 .
He was bought by KKR for Rs 1.5 crore ahead of IPL 2025 and named captain after Shreyas Iyer 's departure.
Senior India batter Ajinkya Rahane on 30 July announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats of the game, closing a distinguished career that spanned 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is for India, alongside 212 IPL appearances across six franchises. Rahane, who wore India cap number 278, made the announcement through a video shared on social media, captioned: 'Cap 278 signing off. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. Forever grateful.'
A Career Defined by Grit and Timing
Rahane made his India debut in 2011 during the tour of England and went on to score 5,077 Test runs in 144 innings, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties. He also accumulated 2,962 ODI runs across his white-ball career. His last international appearance came in India's away Test series against the West Indies in 2023.
In his retirement video, Rahane reflected on a journey that began far from the spotlight. 'From those early days, travelling from Dombivli as a young boy just to practise, I gave this game everything I had,' he said. He added that he always lived by 'one simple rule — always put my country and my team ahead of myself.'
The BGT Triumph That Defined a Legacy
No chapter in Rahane's career looms larger than the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Stepping in as captain after Virat Kohli returned home following the first Test, Rahane led a depleted, injury-ravaged India side to a stunning 2-1 series victory — one of the most celebrated overseas wins in Indian cricket history. The triumph at the Gabba in Brisbane, where India ended Australia's 32-year unbeaten home streak, remains his defining moment as a leader.
IPL Journey Across Six Franchises
Rahane has been a fixture in the Indian Premier League since its inaugural season in 2008. He represented the Rajasthan Royals from 2011 to 2015, followed by two seasons with the Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016 and 2017. He subsequently moved to the Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2020 before joining the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022. His sixth IPL franchise, the Chennai Super Kings, handed him his first IPL title when they lifted the trophy in IPL 2023. He was bought back by KKR for Rs 1.5 crore ahead of IPL 2025 and was named captain following the departure of Shreyas Iyer.
Looking Ahead: Giving Back to the Game
Rahane, who remained active on the domestic circuit and captained Mumbai until the 2024-25 season, signalled that his association with cricket is far from over. 'While my chapter as an Indian cricketer comes to an end, my journey with the game does not. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values this sport has taught me,' he said. He signed off with characteristic reflection: 'Ajinkya means unbeatable, but cricket has shown me defeat many times... there is one place where I was never defeated, and that was in your hearts.' With Rahane's retirement, Indian cricket bids farewell to one of its most technically accomplished middle-order batters — a player whose value was often most apparent in moments of greatest adversity.
Point of View
Which is fitting — his career was defined less by personal milestones than by collective rescue acts. The 2020-21 Gabba win remains arguably the single most tactically impressive result an Indian captain has produced abroad, yet it could not secure him a sustained place in the side once the team rebuilt around a new core. His story is a reminder that Indian cricket's selection ecosystem often struggles to hold space for players who peak in adversity rather than in comfort. Whether his coaching or mentoring role can translate that hard-won understanding to the next generation is the real question his retirement raises.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ajinkya Rahane retire from cricket?
Rahane cited timing as his reason, saying he always relied on timing in his batting and felt the time was right to move on. He last played for India in the 2023 Test series against the West Indies and had remained active on the domestic circuit since.
What are Ajinkya Rahane's career statistics?
Rahane played 85 Tests, scoring 5,077 runs in 144 innings with 12 centuries and 26 fifties. He also played 90 ODIs, accumulating 2,962 runs, and appeared in 20 T20Is for India. He featured in 212 IPL matches across six franchises.
What was Ajinkya Rahane's biggest achievement as captain?
Rahane's standout captaincy moment was leading India to a 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series win in Australia in 2020-21, stepping in after Virat Kohli returned home. The victory included a historic win at the Gabba in Brisbane, ending Australia's 32-year unbeaten home streak at that ground.
Which IPL teams did Ajinkya Rahane play for?
Rahane represented six IPL franchises — Rajasthan Royals (2011-2015), Rising Pune Supergiants (2016-2017), Delhi Capitals (from IPL 2020), Kolkata Knight Riders (from 2022), Chennai Super Kings (IPL 2023, where he won his first title), and KKR again from IPL 2025 as captain.
What will Ajinkya Rahane do after retiring from cricket?
Rahane indicated he intends to stay involved in the game in a mentoring capacity. He said he looks forward to helping the next generation and sharing the values the sport has taught him, giving back to the game that gave him everything.
