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'Forever Grateful': Rohit Sharma Shares Special Post for Retired Ajinkya Rahane

Cricket Gully | July 31, 2026 3:39 PM CST

Shocking cricket lovers around the world on Thursday, Ajinkya Rahane called time on his career in all formats. The former India vice-captain, who hung up his boots after a long career spanning over two decades, proved to be an emotional farewell for both fans and his former teammates. The first to respond to the development was Rohit Sharma.

Rahane, who last played in 2023, called time on a 12-year international career. In 8,414 runs in all formats, he scored 15 international hundreds and became one of India's most reliable middle-order batters, especially in overseas conditions.

Rohit, who has shared the dressing rooms with Rahane from the time they were introduced to Mumbai cricket, spoke highly of his former teammate,

Wrote on his X handle.

"We've been sharing the dressing room for so many years. I've seen the immense amount of hard work you have put into everything you have achieved. Your dedication and professionalism have always stood out. Congratulations on a great career.All the best!"

The message just conveyed the inseparable camaraderie shared by the two cricketing souls, who blossomed together through the domestic circuit to emerge as pillars of Indian batting during the 2010s.

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Rahane and Rohit's Partnership Created Special Memories

Rahane and Rohit were a part of many of India's significant wins, but their partnership during the remarkable 2020-21 Border - Gavaskar Trophy in Australia remains one of the biggest moments of their careers.

After such a disastrous result in Adelaide and a 1 nil deficit, Rahane took over in Virat Kohli's absence and led the Indians to one of the most brilliant series wins of all time. Having missed the first two tests, Rohit Sharma returned during the series and continued where he had left off.

The two Mumbai batsmen had many productive partnerships for India. They had played together in the international arena in a total of fifty-four innings and had scored 2,539 runs at a staggering average of over fifty. Their long partnership featured seven century partnerships and eight fifty partnerships.

The end of Rahane's journey. Though the end of his career might yet be far away, Rahane's retirement is the end of a very significant chapter in Indian cricket.

While revealing his retirement, Rahane said that his focus now shifts to sharing and imparting his experience to uplift the youngsters who are waiting for cricket to happen to them.

Ajinkya Rahane said as he announced his retirement.

"Since I first started playing cricket as a first-class cricketer, Indian cricket has grown leaps and bounds, and I feel so proud to have been a part of it over the last 20 years. Though my time as an Indian cricketer has come to an end, my relationship with the game doesn't. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the principles that the game has taught me and giving back to a game that has given me everything."

Rahane is in the UK at the moment, enjoying a second innings of his career by being a commentator in The Hundred 2026. A few fans still believe he might make his way back to a domestic side or an IPL franchise, but this time as a coach or a mentor.

Despite no longer playing, Rahane is still remembered as one of the greats of Indian cricket due to his hard work and the respect he had earned from fellow cricketers such as Rohit Sharma.