On Thursday, Indian cricket saw the storied career of Ajinkya Rahane come to an end. The 38-year-old posted a tearful farewell message after playing over 12 years for the national side. He made his debut for India in 2011, and his final game came against West Indies in 2023. He also led the side in six Tests, winning four and drawing two games, three of which came during the Australian tour of 2020/21.
Ex-India batter Praveen Amre lauded the leadership qualities of Rahane during that tour. The visiting side lost the first Test in Adelaide as they were bowled out for a mere 36 in the second innings. To add more misery, Virat Kohli returned home, and Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the tour after getting injured during his batting stint.
In the second Test in Melbourne, Ajinkya led from the front with his innings of 112 runs, which came off 223 balls. “We know what he did in Australia with that particular innings in Melbourne when the team was bowled out for 36 previously,” Amre told PTI.
The 57-year-old then said that from the loss in the first Test to picking the side, making them perform, as well as leading from the front and then scoring the century, not only showed the players’ batting talents but also his leadership skills. Praveen also added that the Indian team was mentally down post Adelaide and from there to win the series was a huge deal.
Former India batter calls Rahane ‘Silent Warrior’
The former Mumbai batter called the recently retired star a Silent Warrior who always stood up for his team when it needed him the most. Amre also said that that’s the way the batter had grown up and what made him proud was the fact that Ajinkya did well in adverse situations as a batter.
In his chat with PTI, the player-turned-coach termed the 103 against England at Lord’s as the cricketer’s best innings. That century also gave the right-hander a chance to write his name in the Lord’s honours board that many Indians weren’t able to.
Praveen Amre also said that the series win was just like India’s win in the Kargil War. The team was down and out at one stage and had lost some key players during the course of the series due to injuries. Despite this, Rahane had conjured up enough strength from the remaining players to pull off a famous win in Brisbane.