Kohli’s Emotional Tribute to Rahane After Retirement

Former India captain Virat Kohli took to social media on Thursday to honour longtime teammate Ajinkya Rahane, shortly after Rahane announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Sharing a photo of the two together, Kohli described Rahane as the most dependable fielder in the slip cordon and his preferred partner during Test innings, congratulating him warmly on a career he called something to be proud of.

A Partnership Built Over Years in Whites

Kohli and Rahane shared several memorable stands across home and away tours, with their combination proving especially valuable in Australia. Rahane served as Kohli’s deputy for more than three years, a period that included India’s historic maiden Test series win on Australian soil during the 2018-19 tour. Their bond peaked in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when Rahane stepped in as captain after Kohli flew home following the series opener, steering a weakened Indian squad to a memorable 2-1 triumph.

A Career Spanning Over a Decade

Rahane’s international journey began in 2011, and he went on to represent India in 85 Tests, scoring 5,077 runs that included 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries. The bulk of that output, 3,550 runs across 63 matches, came during Kohli’s captaincy between 2014 and 2022. Beyond Kohli, tributes poured in from teammates and contemporaries including Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara, each reflecting on Rahane’s calm temperament and lasting contribution to Indian cricket as he begins a new chapter away from the game.