The cricket world bid an emotional farewell to one of its most stable and reliable faces on Thursday when veteran Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket. Ending a glittering career spanning nearly two decades, Rahane shared an emotional video on Instagram to conclude his time in his national colors. The announcement sparked an outpouring of gratitude and nostalgia from the global cricket fraternity, but it was the tribute from the modern-day great Virat Kohli that truly touched the hearts of fans. Celebrating a bond forged in the fires of Test cricket, Kohli’s words aptly expressed the respect Rahane earned both on and off the field.
Virat Kohli Shares an Emotional Message Following Ajinkya Rahane’s Retirement
For years, Kohli and Rahane’s presence together at the crease has been a source of great solace for Indian fans, especially in difficult overseas conditions. Recognizing this legendary friendship, Kohli shared an emotional photo of the two on Instagram, dressed in India’s pure Test whites. His message was a testament to the peace and value Rahane brought to the Indian dressing room.
“Jinks, congratulations on a wonderful career, friend,” Kohli wrote, using Rahane’s popular dressing-room nickname. “You have done wonders for Indian cricket, and you can be proud of your journey. The safest pair of hands in the slips and my favorite Test batting partner. Wishing you the best always. God bless,” Kohli wrote on social media.
Kohli’s reference to Rahane as the “safest pair of hands” is backed by pure cricketing legend. Rahane was a maestro in the slip cordon, holding the world record for the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in a Test match (eight against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2015). Kohli and Rahane forged some of India’s most memorable red-ball partnerships, countering damaging bowling attacks, and proving to be the backbone of India’s middle order in the 2010s.
An Undefeated Leader and a Statistical Legacy to Remember
While Rahane will be remembered as a technically gifted, classical batsman, his legacy as a leader is historically unmatched in Indian cricket. He departs with an amazing, unblemished record as India’s Test captain. Leading the country in six crucial Test matches, Rahane achieved four historic victories and two difficult draws. This gives him the highest win percentage among any Indian captain who has led the team in at least five matches.
His exemplary performance as a leader came during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Taking charge after India’s painful 36-all-out collapse in Adelaide, Rahane scored a brilliant, tone-setting century in Melbourne, sparking a historic comeback. Against all odds, and battling a serious team injury crisis, he guided a young, inexperienced Indian team to a magical series-deciding 2-1 victory. This triumph culminated at the Gabba, where Rahane’s strategic brilliance helped end Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak. He had previously demonstrated similar captaincy skills by leading a crucial series-winning victory against the Aussies in Dharamsala in 2017.
Statistically, Rahane’s stats reflect a player who always thrived on the highest stakes. In the purest format, he scored 5,077 runs in 85 matches (144 innings), averaging 38.46, including 12 brilliant centuries and 26 half-centuries. His contributions were also significant in white-ball cricket. In 90 One Day Internationals, he scored 2,962 runs at an average of 35.26, including three centuries and 24 half-centuries. Although his T20I appearances were limited to 20 matches, where he scored 375 runs and a strike rate of 113.29, his overall impact goes beyond mere statistical data. Rahane retires not just as a statistical heavyweight, but as the ultimate crisis manager who orchestrated some of India’s most extraordinary overseas triumphs.