Former Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane brought plenty of laughs to the Sony Sports Network studio on Day 4 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka when he delivered a mimicry of Ravi Shastri. During a segment on Extraaa Innings, Rahane was asked what Shastri might have told the Indian team before the day's play. He immediately slipped into character, changing his voice and copying Shastri's energetic style. “Guys. it’s time. It’s time. It’s time. Game is on. Yeah. You gotta have tika. Let them feel the heat. We are dominating. Just go out there and enjoy your game,” Rahane said.
His impression had fellow panelists Mohammad Kaif and Ajay Jadeja laughing. The moment also caught the attention of viewers on social media, with Sony Sports Network sharing the clip with the caption “Jinks mimicking Ravi Shastri was NOT on our bingo card!” The broadcaster later added: “10/10 for the impression.”
Ajinkya Rahane Makes His Return to the Spotlight as a Commentator
Rahane, who retired from international cricket in late July, is part of the Sony Sports Network coverage during India's tour of Sri Lanka. He and Shastri spent several years together in the Indian setup, including Shastri's stint as head coach from 2017 to 2021, with Rahane among the team's senior players and also serving as captain on several occasions. The Mumbai batter retired after an 18-year professional career at the end of July 2026, closing a chapter that began with his first-class debut and stretched across nearly two decades of domestic and international cricket.
He represented India in 195 matches across formats, scoring 8,414 runs at an average of 35.95, with 15 centuries and 51 half-centuries to his name. His best performances came in the longest format. In 85 Tests, Rahane accumulated 5,077 runs at 38.46, including 12 hundreds and 26 fifties. His highest score of 188 remains a career highlight, while his calm leadership during the 2020-21. The funny moment came during the fourth day of Test cricket. India were bowled out for 193 in their second innings after setting Sri Lanka a target of 372. For a brief spell, however, the attention shifted from the target and the match situation to Rahane's spot-on recreation of one of Indian cricket's most recognisable voices.
