On July 30, 2026, Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket, after a stellar career in all three formats. His instant withdrawal from the international game was announced through a social media post.
Under MS Dhoni’s leadership, Ajinkya made his debut in all three formats, forging a relationship that would last through several stages of his career. Later, when Rahane played for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League in 2023 and 2024, the two cricket players shared a dressing room.
Why Dhoni’s style of leadership was unique
Ajinkya comment emphasised Dhoni’s ability to strike a balance between being approachable and setting boundaries. Players felt at ease approaching the former India captain with issues or asking for advice because of his willingness to leave his door open for teammates. However, he also set clear boundaries when seclusion was required, making sure that his private area was safeguarded when necessary.
During the 2017 Indian Premier League season, Rahane and Ben Stokes shared a dressing room at Rising Pune Supergiant. At the February 20 auction, the team paid Rs 14.5 crores to get Stokes, who joined a lineup that already included Rahane in his second season.
Stokes gave Rahane advise on how to deal with the psychological side of the game during their time together in the IPL, especially with regard to using social media during competitive periods. Rahane thought about this advice and how it influenced his daily routine.
Rahane scored 12 hundreds in 85 Test matches during his international career, amassing 5077 Test runs at an average of 38.46.
He made 90 appearances in ODI cricket, scoring 2962 runs at 35.26 with three hundreds. In 20 Twenty20 Internationals, he scored 375 runs at a strike rate of 113.29. A Test in the West Indies in July 2023 was his last international game.
