Ajinkya Rahane Retirement: Sachin Tendulkar's Call

Ajinkya Rahane Retirement: Sachin Tendulkar Called First, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Sent Messages

Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane has revealed an emotional detail about his retirement, saying that Sachin Tendulkar was the first person to call him after he announced his decision to walk away from cricket.

Rahane, who retired in July 2026 after a career spanning more than a decade at international level, said Tendulkar had expected him to continue playing for some more time. However, Rahane told his idol that he did not want to prolong his career and was leaving the game without regret. He also revealed that Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara and Jasprit Bumrah sent him messages after his retirement.

The revelation offers a glimpse into the close relationship Rahane shared with the generation of Indian cricketers that followed Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Sachin Tendulkar Made the First Call After Rahane's Retirement

Rahane announced his retirement on July 30, 2026, bringing the curtain down on a career that included 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is.

Speaking in an interview after his retirement, Rahane said Tendulkar was the first person to call him.

According to Rahane, Tendulkar told him that he had thought Rahane would continue playing for some more time. Rahane explained that he did not want to stretch his career any further and felt comfortable with his decision.

The most significant part was Rahane's mindset: he said he was retiring without regret, believing that he had given everything during the years he represented India.

For a player who had grown up watching Tendulkar and later shared the dressing room with him, the call carried obvious emotional weight.

What Did Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Say?

Rahane also revealed that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the players who messaged him after his retirement.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Jasprit Bumrah also sent messages, while Rahane mentioned that Irfan Pathan called him.

However, Rahane did not publicly disclose the exact contents of Kohli's or Rohit's messages in the interview reported by Maharashtra Times. Therefore, claims about precisely what either player said would go beyond the available information.

What is clear is that both were part of Rahane's long international journey.

Rahane, Kohli, Rohit and Pujara were among the players who gradually became the core of India's next generation after the retirements of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman.

Rahane's Connection With Sachin Goes Back to His Early Career

Rahane's relationship with Tendulkar began long before his international career became established.

When Rahane entered the Indian setup, Tendulkar was still one of the senior figures in the dressing room. Rahane has previously spoken about learning from Tendulkar, Dravid, Sehwag, Laxman and MS Dhoni during the early part of his India career.

In an earlier interview with BCCI, Rahane described Tendulkar and Dravid as role models and said he learned by observing senior players. He also spoke about studying the way established batsmen prepared for different situations.

Tendulkar himself later recalled his interaction with Rahane before his own retirement. In an interview about his autobiography, Tendulkar said he had taken Rahane aside in the dressing room and told him that his work ethic was strong and that he knew it was difficult for the young batter to keep waiting for an opportunity.

That history makes Tendulkar's post-retirement call to Rahane more significant.

From Waiting for His Chance to Leading India in Australia

Rahane's career was not built around constant headlines.

He often occupied a quieter space in Indian cricket, but his biggest moments came when the pressure was highest.

His defining achievement arrived during India's 2020-21 tour of Australia.

After Virat Kohli returned home following the first Test, Rahane took over as captain. India had suffered a disastrous defeat in Adelaide, being bowled out for 36, but Rahane helped lead the team through a remarkable turnaround.

India won the Melbourne Test, drew the third Test in Sydney and then produced one of the most memorable wins in its Test history at the Gabba.

The eventual 2-1 series victory became one of the defining achievements of Rahane's career.

It was also a period when Tendulkar publicly praised Rahane and the Indian team's resilience after the Melbourne victory.

Rahane's International Career in Numbers

Rahane finished with a substantial international record.

In Tests, he scored 5,077 runs in 85 matches, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties. He also played 90 ODIs, scoring 2,962 runs, while his 20 T20Is produced 375 runs.

His last appearance for India came in the 2023 Test series against the West Indies. Despite remaining active in domestic cricket and the IPL, he was unable to establish another sustained international comeback.

That made his retirement decision a particularly personal one.

For years, Rahane had continued to leave the door open for an India return. Even during IPL 2026, he had indicated that he had not given up on the possibility of making his way back.

Eventually, he decided the timing was right to move on.

Why Rahane Said He Had No Regrets

Rahane's retirement message reflected the philosophy that had defined much of his career.

In his farewell video, he said that everything in life has a beginning and an end and that when the time comes, it has to be respected. He connected that idea with his approach to batting, saying timing had always been important to him.

He also emphasised that his dream had always been to wear the India cap and that he tried to put the country and team ahead of himself.

That helps explain why he told Tendulkar that he did not want to prolong his career.

The decision was not necessarily about whether another comeback was theoretically possible. It was about deciding when the journey had reached its natural conclusion.

Rahane's Message About the Indian Dressing Room

In the same interview, Rahane reflected on the environment he experienced when he first joined the Indian team.

He remembered sharing the dressing room with senior players such as Tendulkar, Dravid, Sehwag, Laxman and Dhoni. He said watching those players taught him a great deal.

He also highlighted something he considered important for the next generation: there should be no jealousy or ego between players.

According to Rahane, teammates should appreciate one another's performances and maintain unity inside the dressing room.

That observation fits the image Rahane built throughout his career—calm, understated and focused more on the team than personal attention.

The Bigger Meaning of Rahane's Retirement

Rahane's retirement marks another step in the transition of Indian cricket.

The generation that followed Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman produced players such as Kohli, Rohit, Rahane, Pujara and Ashwin. Over time, that group itself has moved toward the end of its international careers.

Rahane's departure is therefore not just the retirement of another senior batter. It closes another chapter in the evolution of India's Test team.

His career also demonstrates that impact cannot always be measured by headline numbers alone. His 2020-21 Australia campaign, particularly the leadership shown after the Adelaide collapse, remains central to his legacy.

Ajinkya Rahane Retirement: A Quiet Goodbye to a Remarkable Career

Ajinkya Rahane's retirement did not come with a final international farewell match. Instead, he chose to announce the decision himself, saying that the timing was right to move forward.

Days later, his revelation about Sachin Tendulkar's phone call added an emotional layer to the farewell. Tendulkar was the first to call, while Kohli, Rohit, Pujara and Bumrah reached out with messages.

The exact words exchanged between Rahane and his former teammates remain private, but the broader picture is clear: his career left a lasting impression on the generation of Indian cricketers with whom he shared the dressing room.

For Rahane, the most important thing appears to be that he walked away believing he had given everything he could to Indian cricket—and had no regrets about the timing of his decision.

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