Ajinkya Rahane was never India’s full-time captain. He never had a long run as a leader like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. But whenever India gave him the responsibility, Rahane made it count.
The former India batter leaves behind a captaincy record that no Indian Test captain has been able to match. Rahane never lost a Test match as India’s captain.
Ajinkya Rahane Walks Away With a Record Even India’s Greatest Captains Couldn’t Match
Rahane led India in six Test matches. The team won four of those games and drew the remaining two. His unbeaten record makes him the only Indian captain with such a perfect run after leading the team in five or more Tests.
That record becomes even more special when you look at the names who came before and after him. MS Dhoni led India to some of the biggest achievements in cricket history and Virat Kohli built one of India’s strongest Test teams and dominated overseas conditions. In fact, Rohit has also enjoyed success as a leader. But none of them could maintain an unbeaten Test captaincy record like Rahane.
Rahane’s biggest captaincy moment came during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. India suffered one of their worst defeats in Test cricket when they were bowled out for just 36 in Adelaide. After that match, Virat Kohli returned home, and Rahane took charge of the team.
The situation was difficult. India had lost confidence after losing the first Test. Australia looked unstoppable, and India’s several key players were unavailable because of injuries. But Rahane stayed calm and gave the team belief.
He led from the front in Melbourne and scored a brilliant century and helped India make a strong comeback. Under his leadership, India fought hard in Sydney and then produced one of their greatest Test wins at the Gabba.
The 2-1 series victory in Australia remains one of India’s finest overseas achievements. For many fans, Rahane’s calm leadership was one of the biggest reasons behind that historic triumph.
Before that famous series, Rahane had also led India to Test wins against Australia in Dharamshala and Afghanistan in Bengaluru. Every time he got the captain’s opportunity, he delivered.
His success was not only limited to Test cricket. Rahane led India in three ODIs against Zimbabwe and won all three matches. He also captained India in two T20Is, winning one and losing one.
Overall, Rahane led India in 11 international matches. The team won nine times, lost only once and drew once.
Rahane was never the captain who made headlines with big speeches or aggressive celebrations. His style was different. He led with patience, trust and a calm presence.
He may not have captained India for many years, but he created a record that will always keep his name among India’s special leaders.
“Cap 278 signing off. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. Forever grateful,” Rahane captioned a video he shared on Instagram.
“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 the video
“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’.”
Mumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik paid a glowing tribute to the veteran batter, saying: “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.”
