Ajinkya Rahane, the former India captain and Mumbai batter, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on July 30, 2026, ending a career in which he represented India in 195 international matches and scored 8,414 runs across Tests, One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals.
Rahane announced his decision through a video shared on social media. His final appearance for India came in the second Test against the West Indies in Port of Spain in July 2023.
“The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, we simply have to respect it and move forward,” Rahane said.
Referring to the role of timing in his career, he said he believed the moment was right to move on from international cricket and all other formats of the game.
Test Career
Rahane played 85 Test matches for India and scored 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46. His Test record included 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries, with a highest score of 188.
The right-handed batter was particularly known for his performances outside India. He scored Test centuries in countries including Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
Rahane was India’s highest scorer in the first innings of the ICC World Test Championship finals in 2021 and 2023. Against Australia in the 2023 final at The Oval, he scored 89 as India attempted to recover from an early batting collapse.
Australia Series
One of the defining periods of Rahane’s career came during India’s 2020–21 Test tour of Australia.
He took over as captain after India were dismissed for 36 in the opening Test in Adelaide and regular captain Virat Kohli returned home. Rahane responded with a century in the second Test in Melbourne, helping India level the series.
India later secured a 2–1 series victory after winning the fourth Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. The result gave India its second consecutive Test series win in Australia.
Ajinkya Rahane: Career at a Glance
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ajinkya Rahane |
| Retirement Date | July 30, 2026 |
| Retirement Decision | Retired from all forms of cricket |
| International Debut | T20 International against England in 2011 |
| Last International Match | Test against West Indies in 2023 |
| Total International Matches | 195 |
| Total International Runs | 8,414 |
| International Centuries | 15 |
| Test Matches | 85 |
| Test Runs | 5,077 |
| Test Centuries | 12 |
| ODI Matches | 90 |
| ODI Runs | 2,962 |
| ODI Centuries | 3 |
| T20I Matches | 20 |
| T20I Runs | 375 |
| Major Leadership Achievement | Led India to a 2–1 Test series win in Australia in 2020–21 |
| Test Captaincy Record | 6 matches, 4 wins and 2 draws |
| Domestic Team | Mumbai |
| Key Tournament | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 |
| 2015 World Cup Performance | 208 runs in eight innings |
| Suggested Category | Sports |
Limited-Overs Record
Rahane made his international debut in a T20 International against England in Manchester in August 2011. He played 20 T20 Internationals and scored 375 runs, including one half-century.
In One-Day Internationals, he represented India in 90 matches and scored 2,962 runs. His ODI record included three centuries and 24 half-centuries.
Rahane was part of the Indian team that reached the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015. He scored 208 runs in eight innings during the tournament.
He also represented India in the 2014 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where the team finished as runner-up.
Mumbai Connection
Rahane’s cricket journey began in Mumbai’s domestic structure. He made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the 2007–08 season and developed into one of the team’s senior batters.
His consistent performances in domestic cricket earned him an opportunity with the Indian team. Across his international career, he was frequently used in the middle order and served as India’s Test vice-captain for several years.
Rahane also played for multiple teams in the Indian Premier League. His performances in domestic and franchise cricket remained an important part of his career after his final international appearance in 2023.
Career Numbers
Rahane ends his international career with 8,414 runs from 195 matches across the three formats. He scored 15 international centuries and 39 half-centuries.
His Test career accounted for the largest share of his international record, with 5,077 runs. He added 2,962 runs in ODIs and 375 runs in T20 Internationals.
His retirement closes a career spanning nearly two decades in professional cricket and more than 12 years at the international level.
Timing the Farewell
Rahane said his decision reflected the importance he had always placed on timing, both in batting and in life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When did Ajinkya Rahane announce his retirement?
Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on July 30, 2026.
2. How many international matches did Rahane play?
He represented India in 195 international matches across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
3. How many runs did Rahane score for India?
Rahane scored 8,414 international runs across all three formats.
4. What was Rahane’s Test record?
He played 85 Tests and scored 5,077 runs, including 12 centuries.
5. What was Rahane’s biggest captaincy achievement?
He led India to a 2–1 Test series victory in Australia during the 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
6. When did Rahane last play for India?
His final international appearance came in a Test match against the West Indies in 2023.
(India CSR)
