Ajinkya Rahane reveals MS Dhoni’s open-door leadership style

Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket on July 30, 2026, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning all three formats. The decision came via a social media post, marking his immediate exit from the game at the international level.

Rahane made his debut across all three formats under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, establishing a connection that would span multiple phases of his career. The two cricketers later shared the dressing room during Rahane’s stints with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League during 2023 and 2024.

“He’s (MS Dhoni) very calm and cool and just a very normal human being like everyone. His room was almost always open for anyone to do anything. So many times, 10 to 15 of them or even the whole team was in his room. But when his door was shut, no one was allowed,” Rahane said on Stick to Cricket podcast.

What made Dhoni’s leadership approach distinctive

Rahane’s observation highlighted the balance Dhoni maintained between accessibility and clear boundaries. The former India captain’s willingness to keep his door open for teammates created an environment where players felt comfortable approaching him with concerns or seeking guidance. Yet he also established firm limits when privacy was needed, ensuring that his personal space remained protected when circumstances demanded it.

Rahane and Ben Stokes shared the dressing room at Rising Pune Supergiant during the 2017 Indian Premier League season. Stokes was purchased by the franchise at the auction held on February 20 for Rs 14.5 crores, joining a squad that already featured Rahane in his second year with the team. During their time together in the IPL, Stokes shared advice with Rahane about handling the mental aspects of the game, particularly regarding the use of social media during competitive phases. Rahane reflected on this guidance and how it shaped his personal routine.

Over his international career, Rahane accumulated 5077 Test runs at an average of 38.46 with 12 centuries across 85 Test matches. In ODI cricket, he scored 2962 runs at 35.26 with three hundreds in 90 appearances. He also played 20 T20 Internationals, finishing with 375 runs at a strike rate of 113.29. His final international match was a Test in the West Indies in July 2023.

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