Ajinkya Rahane never asked for it. He did not demand it. He rarely indicated that he wanted the game to be about him and, even when he needed to be, he never made a song and dance of it. When Indian cricket needed the kind of captaincy that could get it through the toughest of times, he took up the responsibility without asking – and led them to one of the most special performances of not just Indian cricket but world cricket history.
The 38-year-old announced his decision to retire from the game on Thursday, wrapping up a 14-year international career. The numbers may do little justice to what he meant to Indian cricket, but they speak volumes – Rahane has amassed more than 8,400 international runs overall.
Ajinkya Rahane: The leader who inspired belief
If there ever was one chapter in his career that encapsulated Ajinkya Rahane as a cricketer, it has to be the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
India had been bowled out for 36 in Adelaide, Virat Kohli had returned home on paternity leave, and the team had been ravaged by injuries. No one anticipated a come-from-behind series win by the visitors, but Rahane did.
He captained the depleted squad with heart, scoring a captain’s hundred in Melbourne and leading the young team to famous wins in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. The victory in Brisbane, the Gabba, was a special one, as Australia hadn’t lost a Test match there in over 32 years. It’s no surprise that almost all tributes paid to Rahane on his retirement spoke of that unforgettable series.
Former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh even called Ajinkya Rahane one of the best players of his generation, applauding him for his stroke-making ability and leadership in India’s most crucial matches.
Harbhajan Singh spoke of Rahane as a top-class player whose legacy would forever be remembered for India’s historic Test series win in Australia and the plethora of elegant centuries he scored.
The respect from his peers says it all about Ajinkya Rahane’s contribution to Indian cricket.
Current stars such as Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant paid heartfelt tributes to the former captain, speaking of the kind of leader he was and how he inspired them to play the game.
Suryakumar spoke of Ajinkya Rahane’s calmness, grit, and determination, saying his game had inspired a whole generation of cricketers.
Also read: Pakistan’s Shan Masood Ruled Out as Finger Injury Forces Test Exit
Shubman Gill called him a leader who steered India through its most testing times, making the improbable possible. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant spoke of Ajinkya Rahane’s selflessness and ability to lead by example, saying he was a captain who could get the best out of his players in all phases of the game. These tributes may say more about Rahane than any statistics could.
A reliable presence in a team that needed him most
Ajinkya Rahane may not have been the most flamboyant player, but he was almost always there when India needed someone to step up.
Whether it was rescuing the innings abroad, steadying the ship in the middle order, or scoring tons in tough circumstances, Rahane was one of the most dependable Test batters in the business. He ends his ODI and Test career as one of the most consistent performers with 5077 runs in 85 Tests and 2962 runs in 90 ODIs, respectively, alongside 12 centuries and 26 fifties in Tests and 3 hundreds and 24 fifties in ODIs. He also scored 375 runs in 20 T20Is.
As a Test captain, Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten in six matches, winning four and drawing two.
More than numbers
Each era has its stars, some of whom were legendary, and some performed exceptionally outstanding feats, while some achieved spectacular records.
Not many might remember a player who never took his chances, but the contribution he made was outstanding.
Ajinkya Rahane had a certain ability to stay rooted and grounded in all situations, and was a true gentleman on and off the field, who made a mark wherever he played, with a blend of elegant cover drives and effortless centuries.
Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, because he was one of those players who did not hog the limelight as much as others, but made sure that whenever he walked onto the field, he gave his best.
Perhaps the image that will linger on long after his retirement is that of a stoic Rahane lifting the Border-Gavaskar trophy in Australia, as he captained his team to victory in the subcontinent.