Ajinkya Rahane Retirement: Sunil Gavaskar Says Former India Captain Never Got the Credit He Deserved

Legendary Indian batter, and former captain, Sunil Gavaskar paid a glowing tribute to Mumbai lad, Ajinkya Rahane after he recently announced his retirement from international cricket across all formats. Known for his calm demeanour, and humble attitude on and off the field, Rahane flew under the radar throughout his cricketing career and went out about his business without creating any fuss around him.

The 38-year-old Mumbaikar also showcased his immaculate leadership skills whenever required, filling into the captain’s role in test matches with supreme ease. His greatest achievement as team India skipper came in Australia during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In the first series of the series, Australia handed India a humiliating defeat when they bowled them out for 36, and then Kohli left the team to come back home on paternal leave. What Ajinkya then did will forever etched in the Indian cricketing folklore; he inspired the team to a famous 2-1 series.

Speaking about Rahane, Gavaskar said, “the right-hander always flew under the radar, and he never got the credit he deserved as a skipper. The Indian icon compared Rahane’s leadership to Rahul Dravid.”

“His record as a skipper is exceptional, with four wins in six matches and no losses. Like Rahul Dravid, who also had some terrific wins under his captaincy but never got the credit he deserved. So, did Rahane’s leadership; it hardly got the applause it merited.” Gavaskar further added in his column for Mid-Day.

He also wrote in his column, “This is typical of Indian cricket. When the team wins, all praise goes to the individual achievers, be it batters and bowlers, but when the team loses, the captain and the coach get the blame.”

Rahane Stepped It Up When Needed

In the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series down under, Rahane led from the front with the bat as well and scored an inspiring century in the very next match after the Adelaide debacle, paving a way for India’s comeback in the series.

Gavaskar wrote, “After the demoralising collapse of 36 all out in the first Test of the 2021 series Down Under, it was Rahane, along with Ravi Shastri, who picked the team from the dumps. The vice-captain took over a ship that was ready to sink and not only sailed it into calmer waters but also gave India an unprecedented first win at Australia’s fortress ‘The Gabba’ and with it the series victory too.”

Gavaskar also reckons that Ajinkya Rahane can walk away with his head held high; he did not make a single enemy in his playing career and many players in the world can say that about themselves. “Rahane leaves the game with his head held high and the sincere thanks of cricket lovers for the totally selfless way he played the game. It is not of many cricketers that it can be said that they did not have a single enemy in the game. There are perhaps less than a dozen to the best of knowledge and experience. Ajinkya Rahane can take his palace there with his typical humility,” Gavaskar concluded.