Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Thursday, July 30. The Mumbai cricketer made his Test debut for India against Australia in Delhi in March 2013. A decade later, he played his last Test match, which came against the West Indies at Port of Spain in July 2023.
Rahane ended his Test career with 85 matches in which he scored 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46. The right-handed batter’s stats featured 12 hundreds and 26 half-centuries. He famously led India to victory in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the visitors were bowled out for 36 in the first Test in Adelaide.
Rahane featured in a number of memorable partnerships during his Test career. Following his retirement, we look at the top 5 highest partnerships featuring Rahane in Test cricket.
#5 (217) Rahane and Pujara vs Sri Lanka in Colombo – Aug 2017
Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara added 217 runs for the fourth wicket against Sri Lanka at Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo in August 2017 in the second Test of the two-match series. India batted first and put up 622-9 on the board in their first innings. They went on to win the Test by an innings and 53 runs.
Batting first, India were 133-3 when Rahane and Pujara joined hands. Rahane scored 132 off 222 balls, hitting 14 fours. On the other hand, Pujara ended up scoring 133 off 232 balls. The partnership ended when Dimuth Karunaratne trapped Pujara lbw. Rahane’s fine knock came to an end when he stumped off Malinda Pushpakumara.
#4 (222) Rahane and Kohli vs Bangladesh in Hyderabad – Feb 2017
Rahane and Virat Kohli featured in a 222-run stand for the fourth wicket against Bangladesh at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal in Hyderabad in the one-off Test in February 2017. India went on to win this Test by 208 runs.
Batting first after winning the toss, the hosts scored 687-6 before declaring their innings. After Murali Vijay (108) and Pujara (83) played fine knocks, Kohli and Pujara carried on the good work, featuring in a double-century stand for the fourth wicket. Kohli scored 204 off 246, with the aid of 24 fours, while Rahane struck 82 off 133 balls, hitting 11 fours.
#3 (262) Rahane and Kohli vs Australia in Melbourne – Dec 2014
Rahane and Kohli featured in an iconic stand of 262 runs for the fourth wicket against Australia in Melbourne in the Boxing Day Test of 2014. After Australia posted a big total of 530 on the board batting first, India responded with 465 courtesy of brilliant tons from Rahane and Kohli.
India lost their first three wickets with 147 runs on the board before Kohli and Rahane combined to take them past the 400-run mark. Rahane hit 147 off 171 balls, with 21 fours, before being trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon. Kohli top-scored with 169 off 272, hitting 18 fours, as the high-scoring Test ended in a draw.
#2 (267) Rahane and Rohit vs South Africa in Ranchi – Oct 2019
Rahane and Rohit Sharma featured in a solid fourth-wicket stand of 267 runs against South Africa in Ranchi in October 2019 in the third and final Test of the series. India won the Test by an innings and 202 runs to complete a clean sweep.
Batting first, India declared their first innings on 497-9. India lost their first three wickets for less than 40 runs, but Rahane and Rohit featured in a huge stand to take India past the 300-run mark. Rahane scored 115 off 192 balls, hitting 17 fours and a six. Rohit hit 212 off 255, with 28 fours and six sixes.
#1 (365) Rahane and Kohli vs New Zealand in Indore – Oct 2016
Rahane and Kohli added a mammoth 365 runs for the fourth wicket against New Zealand in Indore in October 2016 in the third Test of the three-match series. The hosts won the Test by 321 runs to clinch the series 3-0.
Batting first, India declared their first innings on 557-5. They lost their first three wickets with 100 runs on the board before Rahane and Kohli combined to take them past 460. Rahane scored a career-best 188 off 381 balls, with 18 fours and four sixes. Kohli hammered 211 off 366 balls, with 20 fours.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert