Former India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket and the Indian Premier League, reflected upon signing with the Amsterdam Flames in the inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). Reflecting on how he joined the ETPL, Rahane revealed that he received a call from Waugh five minutes after he announced his retirement from all formats of cricket. The former India batter went on to say that Waugh asked him if he would love to join the franchise.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to be a part of ETPL. When I announced my retirement from all formats and international cricket, five minutes later Steve Waugh called me and asked me if I would be happy to join his team. And I was going through a lot of emotions that day when I announced my retirement and I said, okay, give me a day to think through, and I will get back.”
He went on to say, “What impressed me about Amsterdam Flames is the ambition to build something meaningful that creates a lasting impact both on and off the field. I’m excited to work alongside the management to build a successful franchise while helping inspire the next generation and strengthen cricket’s future across Europe.”
The next chapter in Ajinkya Rahane’s glittering career! 💫 Listen to the former India captain talk about the call from another cricketing legend that brought him into the #ETPL family, and why he is excited about the road ahead, with the Amsterdam Flames 👏 pic.twitter.com/6exjby2CoK
— European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) August 7, 2026
In another statement, he said that players have a responsibility of leaving the game stronger than they found it. He also reflected on his new team and said that they are highly ambitious and want to build something that has a long-lasting impact both on and off the field. Rahane stated, “I’ve always believed that players have a responsibility to leave the game stronger than they found it. Europe is entering an exciting phase and has the potential to become one of cricket’s most promising frontiers.”
He is Someone who Represents Everything You want in a Cricketer: Steve Waugh on Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane has moved to the league when European Cricket is entering a building phase and it goes without saying that the arrival of such a marquee player reflects the ambition the franchise has for its further development. Steve Waugh, the Co-Founder and Chief Cricket Officer of Amsterdam Flames welcomed Rahane to the club and heaped praise on the cricketer stating that he “represents everything you want in a professional cricketer.”
He added, “Throughout his career he has earned enormous respect across the cricket world, not only for his performances but for the way he has conducted himself on and off the field. I’ve seen first-hand the composure and leadership he brings under pressure, and those qualities help shape winning cultures. His experience, leadership and character will be invaluable as we build Amsterdam Flames into one of Europe's premier cricket clubs,” he added.
The inaugural 2026 ETPL will kick off on August 26 and run through September 20, 2026.
