Overview
- Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement on Thursday, July 30, posting an emotional video that closed his pursuit of a return to the India team.
- Rahane finished with 85 Tests and 5,077 Test runs, including 12 centuries, and is remembered for leading India unbeaten in six Tests during the 2020-21 series win in Australia.
- The BCCI and numerous current and former players paid tribute to Rahane’s calm leadership and overseas record, and he said he plans to remain involved in the game by helping the next generation.
- Selectors have already named a 15-player Test squad for the Sri Lanka series that includes maiden call-up Saransh Jain, whose selection was publicly endorsed by Ravichandran Ashwin.
- India’s spin resources are crowded, with established options (Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar) and Washington Sundar awaiting fitness clearance, so Jain’s debut will depend on rotation and match conditions.