1. Draft
Tribute: With Ajinkya Rahane, the Bat Did the Talking, and the Fightin.
*Rahane had steel in him, but he was generous as a captain and as a team-mate.*
If you want to understand Ajinkya Rahane—the person, the player, the character, the leader, and the team man—watch his century against Australia in the MCG Boxing Day Test in 2020. That century by "Ajju," as I call him, was a character-defining innings.
It was the second Test of the 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, right after India had suffered the crushing blow of being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide. Ajju was taking over leadership duties in Melbourne after Virat Kohli returned home for the birth of his child.
There was intense pressure, but Ajju didn’t let it affect his batting. He kept playing his game while wickets fell around him, standing his ground to eventually bring up his century. For me, that was one of the finest innings under pressure—leading as a captain and showing the entire team how to bat in those conditions. It was a match-winning effort that put India right back into the series.
*Leading by Example and Inclusivity*
The challenging part after Adelaide was our depleted roster: Virat was absent, and Mohammed Shami was injured. Senior players like myself, Ajju, R Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah acknowledged that while key players were missing, the inexperienced newcomers possessed tremendous potential.
Ajju fostered an environment where everyone had a voice and felt heard. Whether leading Mumbai or an IPL franchise, his strength as a leader lay in keeping things simple and selfless. He never tinkered unnecessarily when things were going well, showing the self-confidence that he could achieve anything on the field as a leader or player.
*Style of Play and Adaptability*
Off the field, Ajju is soft-spoken, calm, and down-to-earth, but on the field, his calm nature hid a deeply aggressive batter. In our junior cricket days, he played with a flashy, fearless style, hitting over mid-on and mid-off effortlessly. Early in his senior career, he adapted his game to become a more consistent and successful red-ball batter, learning to rely heavily on timing and pitch reading rather than raw power.
In later years, he also evolved his T20 game, refining his pick-up shots between square leg and fine leg during his IPL stints. Over our careers, Ajju and I scored over 1,600 runs together at an average of 42.9, building crucial partnerships whenever the team was in trouble.
*The Bengaluru Test Partnership*
A prime example of our bond was the 2017 Bengaluru Test against Australia. Having lost the first Test badly in Pune, we were under severe pressure in the second innings when Australia held a commanding position. Together, we forged a massive 118-run partnership. When the opposition tried to engage in banter as we walked off for tea, Ajju calmly told me, *"Don't get affected. Let's focus on the partnership and let our bats do the talking."* That is exactly what happened.
*Moving On and Looking Ahead*
Dealing with disappointments, dropped spells, and team management decisions towards the end of our international careers was tough. However, Ajju never gave up; he kept playing with the hope of making a comeback, embodying the true character of a cricketer.
Having started competitive cricket around the same time and debuting close to each other, we have both stepped away from international cricket within a short span. My message to Test Cap No. 278 is to relax and enjoy life with family and friends. It's important to move on from the game and not hold onto the past.
2. Achievements of Ajinkya Rahane
*Leading India to historic Series Victory (2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy):** Stepped up as captain after India's defeat in Adelaide (36 all out) and led a depleted team to a legendary 2–1 Test series victory in Australia.
*Iconic Overseas Test Centuries:* Scored a famous match-winning century at the MCG in the 2020 Boxing Day Test and a landmark century at Lord’s in 2014 that set up India's historic Test win.
*Successful Test Career:* Played 85 Test matches for India, scoring over 5,000 runs with 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries.
*Prolific Batting Partnership:* Built a core middle-order partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara, together scoring over 1,600 Test runs at an average of 42.9.
*Indian Test Captaincy Record:* Maintained an undefeated record as Test captain during his stint leading the national side in critical matches.
3. The Story Retold in the Article
The article is a *first-person tribute written by Cheteshwar Pujara* reflecting on his deep bond and shared journey with *Ajinkya Rahane (Ajju)* following Rahane's retirement from international cricket:
1. *The Melbourne Masterclass (2020):* Pujara recalls how Rahane led from the front right after India's tragic 36-all-out collapse in Adelaide. With key players injured or absent, Rahane scored a resilient century at the MCG, reviving India's spirit and steering them to a series-defining victory.
2. *Leadership & Team Culture:* Pujara describes Rahane as a humble, soft-spoken leader who never let ego interfere. He created an environment where young players felt valued and senior players took responsibility without micromanaging.
3. *Evolution as a Batter:* Pujara shares memories from their junior cricket days, noting how Rahane shifted from a flashy, aggressive stroke-player to a disciplined, timing-based red-ball mainstay who could also adapt to modern T20 demands.
4. *Resilience Under Pressure (Bengaluru 2017): * Pujara narrates a story from the 2017 Test against Australia in Bengaluru, where their 118-run partnership turned the series around. When Australian players attempted to verbally distract Pujara, Rahane calmly advised him: *"Let's focus on the partnership and let our bats do the talking." *
5. *Acceptance and Moving Forward:* The article concludes with Pujara offering advice to his long-time friend and teammate (India Test Cap No. 278), encouraging him to step back, cherish time with family, and embrace the next chapter of life after cricket without hoding onto past disappointments.
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