Ajinkya Madhukar Rahane Lifestyle,Wife, Networth, Career stats, Centuries, Records

Ajinkya Rahane , born on June 6, 1988, has etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket as a distinguished international cricketer. Known for his elegant batting and astute leadership, Rahane has been a stalwart for the Indian cricket team. This comprehensive exploration delves into various facets of Rahane’s life and career, from his early days to his achievements in domestic and international cricket.

Early Life and Family:

Ajinkya Rahane was born in Ashwi KD, Sangamner Taluka, Ahmednagar district, to Madhukar Baburao Rahane and Sujata Rahane. His humble beginnings shaped his journey, as at the age of seven, his father took him to a small coaching camp in Dombivli, where a matting wicket became the foundation of his cricketing aspirations. Financial constraints meant that proper coaching was a luxury, but Rahane’s talent and determination shone through.

Growing up with a younger brother, Shashank, and a sister, Apurva, Rahane’s early cricketing education evolved under the guidance of former India batsman Pravin Amre from the age of 17. Despite challenges, Rahane cleared his Secondary School Certificate from SV Joshi High School, Dombivli.

Personal Life:

In the journey of life, Rahane found companionship in Radhika Dhopavkar, his childhood friend. The couple tied the knot on September 26, 2014. Their family expanded with the arrival of their first child, daughter Aarya, on October 4, 2019, and their second child, a son named Raghav, on October 5, 2022.

Domestic Career:

Rahane’s cricketing prowess gained recognition during India U-19’s tour of New Zealand in 2007, where he showcased his talent with two centuries. Making his first-class debut for Mumbai in the 2007–08 Ranji Trophy season, Rahane’s century on debut against Karachi Urban marked the beginning of a promising career. His consistent performances, including a remarkable score of 172 against England Lions in the 2007–08 Duleep Trophy, propelled Mumbai to their 38th Ranji Trophy title in the 2008–09 season.

His prolific run continued, amassing 1089 runs in his second Ranji season (2008–09), and Rahane’s innings of 265 not-out against Hyderabad in the 2009–10 season showcased his batting prowess. He surpassed 1000 runs in multiple seasons, earning him a spot in India’s Test squad.

In April 2019, Rahane took his talents to Hampshire, joining the county club as their overseas player for two months of the season.

List A Career:

Rahane made his List A debut for Mumbai against Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in March 2007, contributing 61 runs to a 171-run partnership with Wasim Jaffer. His performances in List A cricket continued to impress, earning him a place in the India ODI squad for the tour of England in 2011.

Rahane’s journey through the ranks included appearances for India U-19, India A, and participation in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy for India Blue and India Green. He captained Mumbai in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, leading the team to victory in the Deodhar Trophy with a crucial knock of 144* in the final.

International Career – Test Cricket:

Rahane’s Test career is adorned with significant milestones and memorable performances. He made his Test debut against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in March 2013 at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi. Despite initial doubts about his ability to handle pressure, Rahane’s resilience and technique became evident.

His breakthrough moment came at Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand, in February 2014, where Rahane played a crucial role, scoring his first Test century. He continued to excel in overseas conditions, impressing in the Investec Test Series in England in 2014 and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in 2014–15.

Rahane’s leadership skills came to the forefront when he captained the Indian team in the absence of Virat Kohli during the 2017 Dharamsala Test against Australia. India emerged victorious under his captaincy. Rahane continued to lead by example, scoring crucial runs in challenging conditions during the 2018 series against England and the 2018–19 series in Australia.

The pinnacle of his captaincy came in the 2020-21 Border–Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Rahane took charge after the first Test, leading India to a historic series win, showcasing grit, determination, and tactical acumen. His contributions with the bat and exemplary captaincy earned him widespread acclaim.

Rahane’s consistency as a Test batsman reflects in his ranking, holding the 8th position in August 2016 and reaching a career-best 27th position in the ICC Test batting rankings as of May 2021. His ability to anchor innings and contribute during challenging overseas tours makes him a linchpin in India’s Test lineup.

International Career – One-Day Internationals (ODIs):

Rahane’s foray into ODIs has been marked by sporadic successes. He made his debut against England at Chester-le-Street in 2011, impressing with a knock of 40 runs. Rahane’s performances in limited-overs cricket have seen fluctuations, with occasional glimpses of his batting prowess.

His second ODI fifty came in the 2013-14 Asia Cup, and he displayed promise as an opener with centuries against England and Sri Lanka in 2014. However, the dynamics of the middle order in ODIs led to Rahane returning to that position, impacting his consistency.

In the ICC Cricket World Cup, Rahane’s contributions were limited, scoring 208 runs from 8 matches. Despite facing challenges, he was appointed captain for India’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2015, where India won the ODI series 3–0.

International Career – Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is):

Rahane’s T20I journey began in August 2011 against England, where he scored a half-century. He played a crucial role in India’s journey to the final of the 2014 World T20