New Delhi, July 30: When Ajinkya Rahane returned home after leading an injury-ravaged India to one of the greatest Test series victories in cricket history in Australia in 2020-21, his Mumbai neighbours greeted him with a celebratory cake topped by a kangaroo. Rahane smiled but made one request before cutting it: remove the kangaroo. Even in the glow of a famous triumph, he was unwilling to disrespect a symbol of Australia's national pride. It was a small gesture, but one that perfectly captured the essence of the man-gracious in victory, grounded in character, and defined by quiet dignity rather than loud celebration.
Calm, composed, and unwavering in his commitment to doing the right thing, Ajinkya Rahane brought quiet courage to every challenge.
As the veteran of 85 Tests and more than 5,000 international runs, with 12 Test centuries to his name, brings the curtain down on his career. Over two years after his last appearance for India, one question continues to resonate: was Rahane an underachiever, or was he simply underappreciated by Indian cricket? For much of his career, he remained in the shadow of Indian cricket's two towering figures, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, whose larger-than-life presence shaped the game's narrative between 2011 and 2021.
Despite often operating away from the spotlight, Ajinkya Rahane repeatedly rose to the occasion when India needed him most. Time and again, he rescued his team from difficult situations, with many of his finest contributions coming in Test cricket, even during the era dominated by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Here are Rahane's five greatest innings in the longest format:
112 vs Australia, Melbourne (2020)
With India reeling from the trauma of being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide and regular captain Virat Kohli unavailable, stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane produced one of the greatest captain's knocks in Indian Test history. His unbeaten 112 on a lively Melbourne surface was an innings built on immense patience, composure and tactical awareness, helping India secure a crucial first-innings lead. The century completely changed the course of the series as India bounced back to win the Boxing Day Test before scripting a remarkable 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph.
103 vs England, Lord's (2014)
On his maiden Test appearance at Lord's, Rahane showcased exceptional temperament by scoring a magnificent 103 after India had slumped to 145/7 on a green, seam-friendly pitch. Blending elegant strokeplay with gritty determination, he guided India to a competitive total of 295 with valuable partnerships alongside the tail. His century earned him a place on the iconic Lord's Honours Board and played a decisive role in India's first Test victory at the venue in 28 years.
147 vs Australia, Melbourne (2014)
Facing a daunting first-innings deficit after Australia posted 530, Rahane responded with an exhilarating 147 off just 171 balls against a formidable pace attack featuring Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood and Ryan Harris. His fearless counter-attacking approach, coupled with a monumental 262-run partnership with Virat Kohli, shifted the momentum and helped India bat their way to a hard-earned draw.
96 vs South Africa, Durban (2013)
In only the second Test of his career, Rahane announced himself on the international stage with a courageous 96 against Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel on a hostile Durban pitch. While wickets kept falling around him, he displayed exemplary technique and resilience against pace and bounce, proving he possessed the temperament and skill to succeed in the toughest overseas conditions despite falling agonisingly short of a maiden Test century.
89 vs Australia, The Oval (WTC Final, 2023)
Returning to India's Test side after more than a year on the sidelines, Rahane produced a fighting 89 in the World Test Championship final when India were in deep trouble at 71/4 in reply to Australia's 469. Battling through a painful finger injury, he stood firm against Australia's world-class pace attack and shared a crucial partnership with Shardul Thakur to save India from the embarrassment of a follow-on, underlining his ability to rise to the occasion on cricket's biggest stage.
