Who is Ajinkya Rahane? India career and retirement explained

• Ajinkya Rahane is a former India international batter and stand-in Test captain.
• He made his India debut in a T20I in 2011.
• He played 85 Tests, scoring 5,077 runs with 12 centuries.
• He led India to a historic 2–1 Test-series win in Australia in 2020–21.
• He announced his retirement from international cricket in July 2026.

Who is Ajinkya Rahane?

Ajinkya Rahane is an Indian cricketer best known for his calm middle-order batting and leadership in Test cricket. He represented India in Tests, One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals, and captained the Test side on several occasions.

His biggest captaincy moment

Rahane's defining leadership achievement came in the 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. He led India to a 2–1 series win after the side had suffered a heavy defeat in the opening Test.

Ajinkya Rahane's India record

Rahane made his international debut in a T20I in 2011. Across his India career, he played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is. In Tests, he scored 5,077 runs and made 12 centuries.

Retirement update

On 30 July 2026, Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket. That means he is no longer available for selection for India, although news about any domestic or franchise activity should be checked separately.