Cricket fans showed immense gratitude and admiration to former Test team captain Ajinkya Rahane following his shocking retirement from all forms of cricket. Fans praised him as a pure team player who always considered his country before himself. Notably, Rahane brought down curtains on his cricketing career on Thursday, putting an end to a glorious journey of almost two decades. What followed after were the emotional testimonials from fans and pundits alike about his poise while under tremendous pressure, classic style of playing and many match-winning knocks which made his international career a remarkable one pouring in on social media.
In most of the appreciation, netizens referred to his commendable role as a leader during India’s remarkable victory against Australia in the 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Notably, it is considered India’s biggest overseas win series considering the difficult conditions and absence of important players. Moreover, his sportsman spirit of inviting the Afghanistan team to stand for a picture along with the trophy after their first Test match is still considered as one of the greatest testaments of sportsmanship.
Ajinkya Rahane Retires After Serving India in 85 Tests
Ajinkya Rahane has officially hung up his boots, marking the end of a remarkable journey that saw him play a key role in some of India's most significant Test victories. The captain who led India to a memorable Border-Gavaskar Trophy win has announced his retirement from all formats through a heartfelt video on social media this Thursday.
Reflecting on his career, Rahane, who famously guided India to a stunning Test series win in Australia, shared that he felt it was the right moment to move on. Over his career, the former India captain played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is, amassing over 8,000 runs on the international stage. His leadership during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy stands out as a defining moment, as India bounced back from an early setback in Adelaide to clinch a remarkable 2-1 series victory in Australia.
Rahane's journey began in Dombivli, where he honed his skills in Mumbai's domestic circuit before making his India debut in 2011. He quickly established himself as a reliable Test batsman, known for his impressive centuries in challenging overseas conditions. After being dropped, he made a comeback for the 2023 World Test Championship final. Although he didn’t secure a long-term return to the national team, Rahane continued to play domestic cricket until he decided it was time to retire, feeling that the moment was right to close this chapter and embrace new adventures ahead.
