Ajinkya Rahane Retirement: Sachin Tendulkar’s Old Phone Call Revealed, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Pay Tribute
Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement from international cricket has brought back several emotional chapters from his long India career, including a memorable conversation with Sachin Tendulkar that came at a difficult stage of his journey. The former India batter also received heartfelt tributes from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after announcing his retirement from all formats on July 30, 2026.
Rahane, 38, ended a career that included 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is for India. His most celebrated achievement came as captain during the 2020-21 Australia tour, when he led an injury-hit Indian team to a historic 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory.
But behind the statistics was a career shaped by patience, setbacks and repeated comebacks.
The Sachin Tendulkar Phone Call That Rahane Never Forgot
The connection between Rahane and Sachin Tendulkar goes back to Rahane’s early days in Mumbai cricket.
In a story Rahane recalled publicly, Tendulkar spoke to him after his retirement Test against the West Indies in November 2013. Rahane was then struggling to establish himself in India’s Test side and had been serving as the 12th man, while Rohit Sharma had secured his place in the team.
Rahane recalled that the dressing room had decided to give Tendulkar some privacy after his emotional farewell speech at the Wankhede Stadium. Instead, Tendulkar called Rahane over and offered advice that stayed with him.
Tendulkar told the young batter that he had seen his dedication and love for cricket and encouraged him not to lose faith. The central message was simple: keep working and the game would eventually reward him.
That advice was particularly significant because Rahane was facing genuine uncertainty about his international future. Tendulkar had watched him closely and understood that the young Mumbai batter was waiting patiently for his opportunity.
Years later, Rahane continued to speak about the impact of that conversation. He had first met Tendulkar as a teenager and eventually shared the dressing room with one of his childhood heroes.
Sachin’s Tribute After Rahane’s Retirement
When Rahane finally announced his retirement in 2026, Tendulkar once again acknowledged his former Mumbai teammate.
Tendulkar remembered batting with Rahane for Mumbai and highlighted a quality that became central to the latter’s career: he never chased moments. Instead, according to Tendulkar, the important moments came to Rahane because he was prepared to do the hard work required for the team.
Tendulkar also linked that quality to Rahane’s finest achievement in Australia.
The observation is important because Rahane was rarely the most flamboyant player in Indian cricket. His reputation was built more around composure, technique and temperament, particularly in challenging overseas conditions.
What Did Virat Kohli Say About Ajinkya Rahane?
Virat Kohli paid tribute to Rahane in a particularly personal way.
Kohli described him as his “favourite Test batting partner” and praised him as one of the safest fielders in the slips. He also congratulated Rahane for what he called a great career and said the veteran batter had done wonders for Indian cricket.
Their partnership was not merely symbolic. Kohli and Rahane shared 10 century partnerships and 19 stands of 50 or more in Test cricket. Their biggest partnership came in Indore against New Zealand, where Kohli scored 211 and Rahane made a career-best 188 in a 365-run stand.
That history explains why Kohli’s retirement message carried more weight than a routine congratulatory post.
The two also became important figures during India's Test transformation under Kohli’s captaincy, with Rahane serving as vice-captain for several years.
Rohit Sharma’s Reaction Was Equally Warm
Rohit Sharma also shared an emotional message after Rahane’s retirement.
Rohit pointed to the years they spent together in the dressing room and specifically praised Rahane’s hard work, commitment and professionalism. He wished his former teammate well for the next chapter of his life.
Their relationship also has an interesting historical angle.
Back in 2013, when Tendulkar was giving Rahane advice after his farewell Test, Rohit was the player who had taken the batting position Rahane was waiting for. Tendulkar’s advice was therefore given at a moment when Rahane had every reason to feel frustrated.
Instead of turning that disappointment into a distraction, Rahane continued working.
That patience eventually became one of the defining characteristics of his career.
Rahane’s Career Was About More Than Numbers
Rahane finished with more than 8,000 international runs across the three formats.
His Test record stands at 5,077 runs from 85 matches, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties, at an average of 38.46. He scored 2,962 runs in 90 ODIs and 375 runs in 20 T20Is.
The numbers, however, do not fully capture his importance.
Rahane’s greatest legacy is arguably his leadership in Australia during the 2020-21 series.
After India suffered a humiliating defeat in the Adelaide Test, Kohli returned home and Rahane took over the captaincy. India responded by winning in Melbourne before producing one of the most memorable Test victories in its history at the Gabba.
Australia had not lost a Test at the Gabba for 32 years before India broke that run. Rahane’s side won the series 2-1.
That series transformed Rahane’s place in Indian cricket history.
The Long Road From Setback to Farewell
Rahane’s international career also included difficult periods.
He was dropped from India’s Test side, returned, and eventually played his final international match during the 2023 Test series against the West Indies. He remained active in domestic cricket and the IPL, continuing to hope for another India comeback.
His retirement announcement therefore did not come after a long run of international appearances.
Instead, it represented acceptance that the timing was right to move on.
In his farewell message, Rahane said that everything has a beginning and an end and that he had always relied on timing in batting. He said he believed the timing was right to announce his retirement from international cricket and all formats.
He also made it clear that retirement from playing does not mean retirement from cricket. Rahane said he wants to help the next generation and give back to the sport that gave him so much.
Why Rahane’s Retirement Matters
For Indian cricket, Rahane’s retirement represents another step in the transition away from a generation that carried Test cricket for more than a decade.
His career overlapped with Tendulkar’s final years, Kohli’s rise and leadership era, and Rohit’s transformation into a major Test batter and captain.
That makes the reactions from all three especially meaningful.
Tendulkar represented the inspiration Rahane received at the beginning of his career. Kohli became a long-time teammate and captain with whom Rahane shared major Test partnerships. Rohit was both a teammate and, at one stage, the player whose emergence made Rahane wait for his own opportunity.
The three reactions therefore provide a neat picture of Rahane’s journey—from an ambitious Mumbai youngster learning from Tendulkar to a senior India player respected by Kohli and Rohit.
What Comes Next for Ajinkya Rahane?
Rahane’s playing career may be over, but his cricket journey is not necessarily finished.
His farewell message suggested an interest in helping younger players and passing on the values he learned during his career.
That could eventually open doors in coaching, mentoring, commentary or cricket administration, although Rahane has not announced a specific long-term role.
For now, his legacy is secure: a technically accomplished Test batter, a respected leader and the captain who helped India complete one of its greatest overseas victories.
Final Takeaway
Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement closes a significant chapter in Indian cricket. The old Sachin Tendulkar phone-call story shows how much patience was required at the beginning of his career, while the tributes from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma underline the respect he earned by the end.
Rahane may not have been the loudest personality in Indian cricket, but his career was defined by resilience, composure and responsibility. His next chapter may be different, but the lessons from his playing career are likely to remain valuable for the generation that follows.
Follow the blog for more Indian cricket, sports-business and market updates.
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice
Comments
Post a Comment