Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket and all forms of the game, bringing the curtain down on a career that spanned over a decade. The 38-year-old shared the decision through an emotional social media message on Thursday, thanking his family, teammates, coaches and fans for their unwavering support throughout his journey.

His international career was marked by several memorable performances, particularly in Test cricket. Rahane's century at Lord's in 2014 played a key role in India's first Test victory at the iconic venue in nearly three decades. Another defining moment came during the 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, when he captained India in Virat Kohli's absence following the Adelaide Test. Rahane's unbeaten century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground helped India level the series before the team went on to secure a historic 2-1 series victory.

Beyond international cricket, Rahane also had a long Indian Premier League (IPL) career. After making his IPL debut with Mumbai Indians in 2008, he represented Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, captaining the latter in the final phase of his IPL journey.