Former Indian player Ajinkya Rahane shared the players who spoke to him after he recently announced his retirement from all forms of the game. The veteran also said legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar was the first to talk to him and also asked why he did not continue his career longer as well. Rahane also mentioned five other names, including Virat Kohli and Rohit
Sharma, who spoke to him on a call or via message as well.

“The first call came from Sachin (Tendulkar) paaji, who said he thought I would play for longer. I told him I didn’t want to drag on because I was retiring without any regrets. Irfan Pathan also called, while Pujara, Virat, Rohit and Bumrah all messaged me. I told everyone the same thing: I was satisfied because I had given everything to the game,” Rahane said (via Indian Express).

Ajinkya Rahane also said that he was tearing up and left emotional after the retirement announcement video, where he expressed gratitude for his stunning cricketing career.

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“After recording the video, I cried a lot. I was emotional while discussing retirement with my family, but I didn’t expect the recording itself to affect me so much. The reality hit that I would no longer do something I had loved for years. That thought stayed with me throughout the recording,” said Rahane.

Ajinkya Rahane also revealed how he shielded the then-21-year-old batter Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Duleep Trophy final. Leading West Zone against South Zone in the final, Rahane was in the middle of proceedings when Jaiswal got into a heated altercation with South Zone all-rounder Telukupalli Ravi Teja. With the situation seemingly going out of hand, Rahane instantly asked Jaiswal to leave the field of play and thus the youngster was saved from getting banned.

“I sensed that the situation was, maybe, getting out of hand and felt it was my responsibility to control my teammate. I told Yashasvi to go inside, cool down for five or six overs and return. Later, the match referee told me he had prepared a four-match ban but tore up the letter because I had intervened. As a leader, you have to read the situation and act. So in the end, I was happy. He didn’t get any ban, and now he is playing for India,” Ajinkya Rahane concluded.