What will be Ajinkya Rahane's next move after retiring from international cricket?
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Ajinkya Rahane announced his international retirement on July 30, 2026.
The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is one of the exciting T20 leagues in the world. This is a six-team tournament featuring teams from major cities in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Flames, Belfast Wolves, Dublin Guardians, Edinburgh Castle Rockers, Glasgow Cosmic, and Rotterdam Dockers are the six franchises to participate in this tournament.
The inaugural season will begin on August 26. The first leg will be played in the Netherlands between August 26 and September 6. These matches will be played at Voorburg Cricket Club in The Hague.
The second leg will be played in Ireland between September 9 and 20 at Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin. ETPL 2026 will be even bigger because an Indian star will play in the upcoming season.
Rahane is set to make his ETPL debut for Amsterdam Flames
Ajinkya Rahane stunned everyone when he announced his retirement from international cricket on July 30, 2026. He represented India in 85 tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is. Rahane scored 5,077 runs in tests, 5,962 runs in ODIs, and 375 runs in T20Is.
Rahane played his last international match in July 2023 against West Indies. With no hope left to make a comeback in the Indian team, Rahane announced his retirement. But now, Rahane is all set to return to the cricket field.
He has signed with Amsterdam Flames after 8 days of announcing his retirement. It will be his first appearance in a franchise league other than the Indian Premier League (IPL). On Friday, Rahane himself made the announcement.
He said, “Europe is entering an exciting phase and has the potential to become one of cricket’s most promising frontiers. What impressed me about Amsterdam Flames is the ambition to build something meaningful that creates a lasting impact both on and off the field. I’m excited to work alongside the management to build a successful franchise.”
On the arrival of Rahane, former Australian captain Steve Waugh, who is also the co-founder and chief cricket officer of the Amsterdam Flames, welcomed the 38-year-old.
He said, “Ajinkya Rahane represents everything you want in a professional cricketer—skill, resilience, humility, and leadership.”
Rahane will join the franchise’s leadership group. His experience will be key for the franchise heading into the inaugural season of the ETPL. Apart from Rahane, the Flames have also picked renowned names like Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, and Michael Bracewell.
When did Ajinkya Rahane announce his international retirement?
Ajinkya Rahane announced his international retirement on July 30, 2026.
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Karan Rawat is a seasoned cricket writer with a deep passion for the game and over 5 years of experience covering everything that the game can offer. He loves to share the analysis, match reports, and player profiles and tries to bring stories to life with a unique blend of statistics and storytelling. Whether breaking down Test match tactics or capturing the drama of a T20 thriller, Karan's work connects fans with the soul of the sport.