Virat Kohli honours Ajinkya Rahane with a heartfelt tribute after his retirement announcement

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The cricketing world bid a tearful farewell to one of its most stoic and dependable figures on Thursday, as veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket. Wrapping up a glorious career that spanned nearly two decades, Rahane shared an emotional video on Instagram to draw the curtain on his time in national colours. The announcement triggered an outpouring of gratitude and nostalgia across the global cricket fraternity, but it was the touching tribute from modern-day great Virat Kohli that truly resonated with fans. Celebrating a bond forged in the crucible of Test cricket, Kohli’s words perfectly encapsulated the respect Rahane commanded both on and off the field.

For years, the sight of Kohli and Rahane occupying the crease together was a source of immense comfort for Indian fans, especially in daunting overseas conditions. Acknowledging this legendary camaraderie, Kohli took to Instagram to share a poignant photograph of the duo donned in India’s pristine Test whites. His message was a testament to the quiet grace and immense value Rahane brought to the Indian dressing room.

“Jinks, congratulations on a great career, buddy,” Kohli wrote, using Rahane’s popular dressing-room nickname. “You’ve done wonders for Indian cricket, and you can be very proud of your journey. The safest pair of hands in the slips and my favourite Test batting partner. Wishing you well always. God bless,” Kohli wrote on social media.

Kohli’s reference to Rahane as the “safest pair of hands” is backed by pure cricketing lore. Rahane was a maestro in the slip cordon, famously holding the world record for the most catches in a single Test match by a non-wicketkeeper (eight against Sri Lanka in Galle, 2015). Together, Kohli and Rahane stitched some of India’s most memorable red-ball partnerships, expertly navigating lethal bowling attacks on green tops and bouncy tracks alike, proving to be the backbone of India’s middle order through the 2010s.

Jinks, congratulations on a great career, buddy. You’ve done wonders for Indian cricket, and you can be very proud of your journey. The safest pair of hands in the slips and my favourite Test batting partner. Wishing you well always. God bless. 🤝🇮🇳@ajinkyarahane88

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 30, 2026

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While Rahane will be remembered as a technically gifted, classical batter, his legacy as a leader remains historically unparalleled in Indian cricket. He bows out with a phenomenal, unblemished record as India’s Test captain. Having led the nation in six crucial Test matches, Rahane orchestrated four historic victories and secured two hard-fought draws. This gives him the highest win percentage among any Indian captain who has led the side in at least five matches.

His absolute magnum opus as a leader came during the storied 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Taking the reins after India’s traumatic 36-all-out collapse in Adelaide, Rahane struck a majestic, tone-setting century in Melbourne to trigger a comeback for the ages. Against all odds, and battling a severe team injury crisis, he guided a young, inexperienced Indian squad to a magical series-clinching 2-1 victory. The triumph culminated at the Gabba, where Rahane’s tactical brilliance helped end Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the venue. He had previously displayed this same captaincy acumen by leading India to a pivotal series-winning victory over the Aussies in Dharamshala in 2017.

Statistically, Rahane’s numbers reflect a player who consistently stepped up when the stakes were highest. In the purest format, he amassed 5,077 runs across 85 matches (144 innings), averaging 38.46 with 12 elegant centuries and 26 half-centuries. His contributions extended heavily to white-ball cricket as well. In 90 One Day Internationals, he accumulated 2,962 runs at an average of 35.26, including three centuries and 24 fifties. Though his T20I appearances were limited to 20 games, where he scored 375 runs with a strike rate of 113.29, his overall impact transcended sheer metrics. Rahane retires not just as a statistical heavyweight, but as the ultimate crisis man who engineered some of India’s most extraordinary overseas triumphs.

Also READ: “Everything has a beginning and everything has an end…”: Ajinkya Rahane announces retirement from all formats of cricket