3 weeks ago
Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket with no regrets
Ajinkya Rahane is a famous cricketer from India who has decided to stop playing international cricket for his country.
He says he has no regrets because he always gave his best, what he calls his '200 per cent.'
He thought about retiring for almost a whole month before making up his mind.
He asked himself every day if he wished he had done something differently, and the answer was always no.
Rahane played for India for 14 years and last wore the Indian jersey in 2023.
In that time, he played 85 Test matches, 90 one-day matches, and 20 T20 matches.
He was also a captain who never lost a Test match.
He is proudest of leading India to a famous series win in Australia.
Rahane still wants to play cricket in leagues around the world.
He also hopes to become a coach or mentor one day so he can share his experience with other players.
Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket, saying he has 'no regrets' and gave his '200 per cent' every time he played for India.
He deliberated for almost a month (25-30 days), questioning himself every day about regrets before concluding he had none.
Rahane is open to coaching and mentorship, wanting to share his experience globally rather than keep it in a 'smaller circle.'
He was unveiled as a marquee player for Amsterdam Flames in the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL), scheduled from August 26 to September 20, 2026.
He retired with an undefeated Test captaincy record, highlighted by India's 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia in 2020-21.
- Who
- Ajinkya Rahane, former Indian international cricketer and ex-Test captain.
- What
- Announced his retirement from international cricket with no regrets, expressed interest in coaching and mentorship, and was unveiled as a marquee player for Amsterdam Flames in the inaugural ETPL.
- Where
- India (for his international career); Europe for the inaugural ETPL season, with franchises in Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, and Rotterdam.
- When
- Announced days before his ETPL unveiling; the first ETPL season is scheduled from August 26 to September 20, 2026.
- Why
- Rahane said he gave everything he could to the game and is happy with the cricket he played, feeling he achieved everything he wanted.
Key facts
- International career
- 14 years; 195 matches (85 Tests, 90 ODIs, 20 T20Is)
- International runs
- 8,414 runs in 251 innings at an average of 35.95
- Test record
- 5,077 runs in 85 matches at an average of 38.46, with 12 centuries and 26 fifties
- Test captaincy record
- Undefeated - four wins and two draws; highest win percentage for an Indian Test captain with at least five matches
- New team
- Amsterdam Flames (marquee player)
- League
- European T20 Premier League (ETPL), Europe's first ICC-sanctioned T20 league
- ETPL season
- August 26 - September 20, 2026; 33 matches across six city franchises
- IPL record
- Eighth-highest run-getter with 5,367 runs; one title with Chennai Super Kings (2023)
Quotes
Ajinkya Rahane
Former India cricketer and Test captain
“I am very happy with my decision. I am very happy with the kind of cricket I have played. I am a person who never likes to look back. So, when I took this decision, I was probably thinking for over 25-30 days—almost a month—before making it. Every single day, I was questioning myself: 'Are there any regrets? Are there any things I wanted to have done differently?'. But the answer I got was: no regrets at all. I did everything as a player; whatever things I had in my control, probably more than ”
republicworld.com
rediff.com
“"It is all about management, like man‑management, coaching, and mentorship. So, yes, the initial focus is because I still want to play cricket…but apart from playing, I feel I’ll be very good as a coach and a mentor."”
republicworld.com
Sources
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