• Source:JND

Virat Kohli paid a heartfelt tribute to Ajinkya Rahane after the former India vice-captain announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Thursday (July 30).

Taking to X, Kohli congratulated his long-time teammate and called Rahane his favourite batting partner in Test cricket. He also praised Rahane’s safe hands in the slip cordon and wished him the very best for the future.

ALSO READ: Ajinkya Rahane Retires From International Cricket: Stats, Records And Captaincy Numbers Explained

“Jinks, congratulations on a great career, buddy. You’ve done wonders for Indian cricket, and you can be very proud of your journey. The safest pair of hands in the slips and my favourite Test batting partner. Wishing you well always. God bless,” Kohli tweeted.

Kohli and Rahane's memorable partnerships

Kohli and Rahane shared several memorable partnerships for India across all three formats. Rahane also served as Kohli’s deputy in the Test team for more than three years and played an important role in India’s rise as a dominant Test side.

ALSO READ: IND vs SL: Massive Update On Jasprit Bumrah's Injury Ahead Of India vs Sri Lanka Test Series

One of Rahane’s biggest achievements came during India’s 2018-19 tour of Australia, where he played a key part in the team’s first-ever Test series win on Australian soil under Kohli’s captaincy.

Two years later, during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli returned home after the opening Test following the birth of his first child. Rahane then took over as captain and guided an injury-hit Indian side to a remarkable 2-1 series victory, one of the greatest overseas triumphs in the team’s history.

Rahane made his Test debut against Australia in Delhi on March 22, 2013. He went on to play 85 Tests for India, scoring 5,077 runs, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties. Between 2014 and 2022, he featured in 63 Tests under Kohli’s captaincy and scored 3,550 runs.

Apart from Kohli, cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Rahane on a remarkable career and said that he proved composure is not the opposite of aggression.

“Congratulations on a remarkable career, @ajinkyarahane88. The first time we batted together for Mumbai, I saw someone who never chased moments. They came to you because you were willing to do the hard yards for the team. That same quality defined your finest hour in Australia. You showed that composure isn’t the opposite of aggression. It is often what gives a team the confidence to be fearless. Congratulations on a wonderful career! Wishing you and your family all the very best," Tendulkar tweeted.


Also In News