Ajinkya Rahane announces retirement from international cricket at 38

Veteran Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a career that spanned over a decade. The 38-year-old made the announcement in an emotional video posted on his social media platforms on Tuesday.

Rahane retires from all formats of the game, having played 85 Tests, 90 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 20 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for India since his debut in 2013. He last represented India in the away Test series against the West Indies in 2023.

In his retirement message, Rahane said: 'The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance. Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling from Dombivli as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had.'

Rahane's career highlights include being part of India's historic Test series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. He captained India in the latter series after Virat Kohli's departure, leading the side to a memorable win at the Gabba. Known for his composed batting style, Rahane scored 5,031 runs in Tests at an average of 38.42, including 12 centuries. In ODIs, he amassed 2,962 runs at 35.26 with two centuries, while in T20Is, he scored 375 runs at a strike rate of 118.11.

Rahane continues to be active in domestic cricket. He led Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy until the 2024-25 season and remains a key figure in the team. His retirement from international cricket marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, but his contributions to the game will be remembered.