Ajinkya Rahane fights back tears as he bids farewell to international cricket

NEW DELHI: Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a career that spanned more than a decade. The veteran batter took to Instagram to share the news through an emotional video message. Rahane struggled to hold back his tears as he bid farewell to international cricket, thanking fans for their constant support throughout his journey.The right-handed batter made his India debut against England in 2011 and went on to play 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is. His last appearance for India came during the 2023 Test series against the West Indies. Rahane signed off his Test career with 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries. In 90 ODIs, he scored 2,962 runs at 35.26, with three centuries and 24 fifties, while he made 375 runs in 20 T20Is."The reality of life is that everything has a beginning, and everything has an end. When that time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I always relied on timing in my batting, and I've always understood its important," Rahane said in a video message on his Instagram account."Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my requirement from international cricket, and all formats," he added in the clip that was captioned "Cap number 278, signing off".One of the defining moments of Rahane's career came during India's historic 2020-21 Test series win in Australia. Standing in as captain for Virat Kohli, he led an injury-hit Indian side to a memorable 2-1 series victory."From those early days, travelling from Dombivali as a young boy, just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap," he said in his farewell message.Rahane also said that although his international career has ended, he will continue to remain involved with the game."I lived by one single rule, only support my country and my team ahead of myself. I played this game with complete honesty, and I always believe that if your intent is right, the game will always take care of you," Rahane said."Since the time I made my debut as a First-Class cricketer, Indian cricket has grown tremendously and I feel so proud to have been a part of over the last 20 years."While my chapter, as an Indian cricketer, comes to an end, my journey with the game doesn't. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values, the sport has taught me, and giving back to the game that has given me everything," he said.Ending on an emotional note, Rahane reflected on the lessons cricket had taught him, saying that while his name means "unbeatable", the sport has shown him the value of accepting defeat."There have been many wins and losses along the way, but the sheer joy of playing cricket, being part of different teams, and creating lifelong memories, that has been the greatest satisfaction of my career," he said."Ajinkya means unbeatable. But cricket has shown me defeat many times. As cricketers, we fail more often, then we succeed," he acknowledged."My team has lost matches. I have made mistakes, but there is one place where I was never defeated, and that was in your heart. You always treated me like your own. Thank you for your love. Your faith, and your support. Cap number 278, signing off," Rahane added.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.