Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket

India and Mumbai's experienced batsman Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket. Rahane made the announcement through a video on social media platform Instagram on Thursday. He said, "I have always believed in correct timing in my batting, and today I feel it's the right time to bid farewell to international cricket and all its formats. From a small boy in Dombivli to the Indian team, I have given this game my all. Every innings and every opportunity had just one dream, to wear the Indian cap. I have always prioritized the country and the team over myself and played the game with complete honesty."

He further stated that since he started first-class cricket, Indian cricket has made extraordinary progress, and being a part of this journey for the last 20 years has been a matter of pride for him. He said that although his chapter as an Indian cricketer has come to an end, his relationship with cricket will continue, and he wants to transfer his experiences and values to the new generation by guiding them.

Rahane played 85 Tests, 90 One-Day Internationals, and 20 T20 Internationals for India. His last international match was a Test against West Indies in July 2023. One of the notable achievements of his career was helping India win the historic Test series 2-1 in Australia in 2020-21. After India was bowled out for just 36 runs in the Adelaide Test, Rahane-led team made a spectacular comeback to win the series.

In his 12-year international career spanning from 2011 to 2023, Rahane scored 5077 runs in 85 Test matches at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries. In 90 ODI matches, he scored 2962 runs at an average of 35.26, including three centuries, while in 20 T20 Internationals, he scored 375 runs at an average of 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29.

He led India in six Test matches, out of which the team won four and two were drawn.