Ajinkya Rahane retires from all forms of cricket [Source: X and Screengrabs]India's Test veteran and Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket and all forms of the game on July 30, 2026. In an Instagram video that he dropped on his official social media handle, Rahane posted a two-minute 51-second-long monologue to express his thoughts about hanging up his boots. The video was emotional as Rahane teared up towards the end while pouring his heart out through the words he said to justify his retirement from the game. Ajinkya Rahane steps down from cricket at the age of 38, with the Maharashtra-born cricketer completing over 195 international matches for India and 212 IPL games for six franchises. As Rahane puts an end to his legendary career, the internet also rose to give him a massive tribute to the veteran who started his journey in 2011.Why Did Rahane Step Down From Cricket?In his speech in the Instagram video, Ajinkya Rahane was emotional as he shared his statement and a possible reason behind his retirement. Rahane said, "The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting, and I have always understood its importance. Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats." From this statement, Rahane is possibly hinting at the age factor and a possible point of no return to the Indian cricket team, which he last represented back in 2023 in a Test match against West Indies. IANS @ians_india India batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats. He posted on Instagram, "Cap 278 signing off. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. Forever grateful" (Video: Ajinkya Rahane/Instagram) Jul 30, 2026, 10:16 AM In the ODI format too, Rahane was last seen in 2018 against South Africa, although he was the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 as well. Now, after reaching the fag end of his career, Rahane has hung up his boots with very little possibility of returning to the Indian side, where youngsters and young talents have crowded the playing eleven.Also Read- Players Who Became Indian Coaches After Their IPL StintInternet Showers Praise As Test Veteran Rests His BootsThe internet hasn't been so merciful with Rahane everytime though. During IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders' failure and Ajinkya Rahane's failed captaincy had the internet badmouthing him on several occasions, raising questions about his leadership decisions and poor captaincy choices. However, as Rahane hangs up his boots, the internet has shown love for the India veteran, who will now continue his career only as a cricket expert, cricket pundit, and cricket commentator. Let's take a look at how the fans and the internet reacted to Ajinkya Rahane's retirement:गर्वित @HindiFirstLang When the Leader abandoned the sinking ship, Ajinkya Rahane sailed it through the stormed Australian Waters. Thank You Rahane for the grit and commitment. Jul 30, 2026, 10:59 AM Saptak Sanyal @SanyalwithStats Ajinkya Rahane announces retirement from all forms of cricket. One thing I vividly remember about him is that the NZ cricketers walked up to him to congratulate him after that 188. That Lord's century, that 89 in WTC final, that 112 after the 36-all out debacle stayed with me. "EK SHANDAR CRICKETER AJINKYA RAHANE JI NE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET KO ALVIDA KIYA.. @ajinkyarahane88 apko Badhai age ke liye.. desh apke yogdan ho YAD KAREGA CRICKET," - @jaijairamrathodST Srivas @Lofted_Drive_ -36 allout. -Capt returns to India. -All the main players were getting injured, only 11 players were left . -15 days hard quarantine for new players. -Team india was heading towards a humiliating series defeat. Then Ajinkya Rahane took charge of the team, the rest is history. Jul 30, 2026, 10:51 AM "Modern cricketers often make headlines for their love lives or social activities, but players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and now Ajinkya Rahane focused solely on cricket. Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir have proven to be a curse for Team India," - @politics_vibes𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐇𝐀𝐕⁴⁵ @Iamraghav264 Our Real Best Test Captain Is Retired 🥹 Thank You AJINKYA RAHANE 🌟🤌🥰 #AjinkyaRahane #Retirement Jul 30, 2026, 10:51 AM "Unsung Hero of Indian Test Cricket Retires. Thank you, Ajinkya Rahane, for the memories especially leading India to the historic 2020–21 Test series win down under In an era driven by hype, you stood for humility, grace, and character," - @Alhad_NeneRajat Agrawal 🇮🇳 @r_agrawal11 🚨 BREAKING: Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket! The fact that Rahane led India to series victory outside India without Bumrah simply makes him India's greatest test captain away from home. - 8 414 Int'l or 5,367 runs. - 8 Overseas centuries - Unmatched slip Jul 30, 2026, 10:51 AM "That BGT win will be special for so many of us for a long time. Go well, Ajinkya Rahane." - @vinayakkmAjinkya Naik - President, MCA. @ajinkyasnaik Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian cricket. His dedication, composure under pressure, and commitment to excellence have made him one of Mumbai cricket’s finest ambassadors. His legacy will inspire generations to come. @ajinkyarahane88 | Jul 30, 2026, 10:12 AM Will Ajinkya Rahane Play IPL 2027?While Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket, some may believe that he still might play in the Indian Premier League, representing Kolkata Knight Riders and leading the team. However, Rahane clearly stated that he will be retiring from international cricket and all forms of the game, which effectively means that he will not play in IPL 2027 and has also retired from the IPL as well. Rahane's retirement will bring another major question for the Kolkata Knight Riders camp, where the team management will have to find his successor soon.Rahane’s Glorious Career In CricketRahane's prolific career reached its peak when he led India to a Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia. He played 144 Test innings, scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46 and a strike rate of 49.50. He also scored 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries in the format, while in ODIs, he scored 2,962 runs from 87 innings with a decent average of 35.26. However, in T20Is, he boasts modest numbers, having featured in only 20 games and scoring 375 runs at a strike rate of 102.29. In the IPL, Rahane represented several teams like Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, and ultimately Kolkata Knight Riders. From the 212 matches he played, Rahane scored 5,367 runs at an average of 30.15, while maintaining a strike rate of 125.60.Also Read- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Gives Bold '4-Word' Reply On The Bowler He Fears The Most
