Tendulkar lauds Rahane after retirement: 'Composure isn't opposite of aggression'
Synopsis
Sachin Tendulkar's tribute to Ajinkya Rahane wasn't just a farewell — it was a cricket lesson. In a single line on X, Tendulkar reframed what made Rahane's Gabba-winning captaincy so extraordinary: composure, he wrote, 'is often what gives a team the confidence to be fearless.' For a player who took charge of a broken squad in Adelaide and returned with a series win, that reads less like praise and more like a verdict.
Key Takeaways
Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats on 30 July , ending a career spanning more than a decade.
Sachin Tendulkar posted a tribute on X, saying Rahane 'showed that composure isn't the opposite of aggression.' Rahane played 85 Tests , 90 ODIs , and 20 T20Is , scoring 5,077 Test runs including 12 centuries .
His finest hour as captain: leading India to a 2-1 series win in Australia in 2020-21 , including the historic Gabba victory.
Former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also paid tribute, calling Rahane 'one of the finest from this generation.' Rahane signed off as Cap 278 , having begun his India career on the 2011 tour of England.
Sachin Tendulkar led the tributes for Ajinkya Rahane on 30 July after the former India Test captain announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats, calling it a 'remarkable career' and praising Rahane's selfless temperament that defined some of India's most memorable overseas victories.
Tendulkar's tribute on X
Tendulkar, who shared the Mumbai dressing room with Rahane during the batter's formative years, posted a heartfelt message on X shortly after the retirement announcement. 'The first time we batted together for Mumbai, I saw someone who never chased moments. They came to you because you were willing to do the hard yards for the team. That same quality defined your finest hour in Australia,' Tendulkar wrote.
'You showed that composure isn't the opposite of aggression. It is often what gives a team the confidence to be fearless,' he added, capturing in a single line what made Rahane's captaincy in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy so consequential.
Yuvraj Singh joins the farewell
Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also paid tribute, describing Rahane as 'one of the finest from this generation to represent the country in all formats.' Posting on Instagram, Yuvraj wrote: 'You did well at every opportunity and here's wishing you good luck for what comes next! Shakalaka baby.'
A career defined by the Gabba
Rahane, 37, made his India debut during the 2011 tour of England and went on to appear in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is. He accumulated 5,077 runs in 144 Test innings, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties, and added 2,962 runs in ODIs. His final appearance for India came in the 2023 away Test series against the West Indies.
His defining chapter as captain came when India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide and regular skipper Virat Kohli departed for paternity leave. Rahane took charge and steered a depleted squad to a historic 2-1 series win, capped by the famous victory at the Gabba — a ground Australia had not lost a Test at in 32 years.
Rahane's retirement message
Rahane announced his decision through a video on social media, captioned: 'Cap 278 signing off. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. Forever grateful.' In the video, he reflected on a journey that began with train rides from Dombivli to Mumbai's cricket grounds.
'The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance. Today, I feel the timing is right,' Rahane said. He signed off with characteristic humility: '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.'
What comes next
Rahane's retirement closes a chapter on one of the most tactically astute captains India has produced in the modern era. He is widely expected to remain connected to the game in a mentoring or coaching capacity, though no official announcement has been made. The outpouring from Tendulkar, Yuvraj, and others signals the regard in which the cricketing fraternity holds him as he transitions to the next phase of his life.
Point of View
But Rahane's broader Test record — 5,077 runs at a respectable average across 85 Tests — rarely gets the same airtime as his captaincy cameo. Tendulkar's framing of 'composure as aggression' is astute: in an era that prizes explosive batting, Rahane's value was always structural, not statistical. The fact that his last India appearance was in 2023 — nearly two years before his formal retirement — also raises a question mainstream coverage tends to sidestep: did Indian cricket give him a proper farewell, or did he simply wait long enough for the door to close on its own?
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Ajinkya Rahane retire from international cricket?
Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats on 30 July, through a social media video captioned 'Cap 278 signing off.' The 37-year-old's last appearance for India had come in the 2023 away Test series against the West Indies.
What did Sachin Tendulkar say about Rahane's retirement?
Tendulkar posted on X that Rahane 'showed that composure isn't the opposite of aggression — it is often what gives a team the confidence to be fearless.' He also recalled batting alongside Rahane for Mumbai early in his career, noting that Rahane 'never chased moments.'
What is Ajinkya Rahane's international cricket record?
Rahane played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is for India. He scored 5,077 runs in 144 Test innings, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties, and accumulated 2,962 runs in ODIs across his career.
Why is Rahane's 2020-21 Australia series captaincy considered historic?
After India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide and Virat Kohli left for paternity leave, Rahane took over and led a depleted squad to a 2-1 series win, including a victory at the Gabba — a ground Australia had not lost a Test at in 32 years. It is widely regarded as one of India's greatest overseas Test triumphs.
What did Yuvraj Singh say about Rahane?
Yuvraj Singh posted on Instagram calling Rahane 'one of the finest from this generation to represent the country in all formats.' He added that Rahane 'did well at every opportunity' and wished him luck for the future.
