Ajinkya Rahane explains the chemistry behind his partnership with Virat Kohli

Ajinkya Rahane has revealed how his calm approach perfectly complemented Virat Kohli's aggression, explaining the communication, trust and dressing-room bond that helped forge one of India's greatest Test partnerships.Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli led the way for India's success overseas. (Image: Reuters)Ajinkya Rahane's retirement from international cricket has prompted reflections on a career that spanned more than a decade and included some of India's greatest moments in Test cricket. Few partnerships defined that era better than the one he shared with Virat Kohli, as the duo combined contrasting personalities to become one of India's most prolific batting pairs.Speaking on The Overlap Cricket podcast after announcing his retirement, the former India vice-captain explained how Kohli's aggression perfectly complemented his own calmness, helping them forge a partnership built on trust, honesty and constant communication.OPPOSITES ATTRACTRahane believes the secret behind their success lay in their contrasting approaches to the game."Firstly I really enjoyed batting with him. We complemented each other really well. The aggressive nature of Virat Kohli and then my calm nature really helped us a lot. The reason for those partnerships was always the positive communication and the frank communication we had." Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane played a big role in India's success in Tests during their playing days.(Image: Reuters) That balance translated into remarkable consistency. Kohli and Rahane scored 3,661 runs together in 67 Test innings at an average of 51.45, registering 14 fifty-run partnerships and 12 century stands, making them the fifth-most prolific Indian batting pair in Test history. Away from home, they added 1,950 runs in 42 Tests, also ranking fifth among Indian overseas partnerships.KOHLI-RAHANE PARTNERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS3,661 partnership runs in Tests51.45 partnership average12 century partnerships14 fifty-run stands1,950 runs together in overseas TestsFifth-highest run-scoring Indian Test partnershipHONEST CONVERSATIONSFor Rahane, their success was never just about numbers. It was rooted in complete honesty, both on and off the field. "Whenever Virat thought of going against a particular bowler and if my response was positive, he was doing it. Virat was the guy who always liked people who were coming after him. Whenever they asked me, 'Should I sledge him back?', I said, 'Yeah, if that works for you, go for it.' It was that frank communication that helped us a lot." The two were part of the era that conquered Australia. (Image: Reuters) Those conversations continued even after play."We used to spend a lot of time together even off the field. We used to talk a lot about cricket... about Virat's game, about my game and about the other players. If you're talking cricket with your teammates, you get to learn many more things."Rahane believes those discussions helped create a stronger dressing-room culture, one that encouraged players to constantly learn from one another.KOHLI'S FEARLESS MANTRADespite his reputation for intensity, Kohli's advice to Rahane was remarkably uncomplicated."It was always positive. He said, 'Well Jinx, just play your game.' Because naturally I'm an attacking batsman. He said, 'If you feel like going after a particular bowler, don't hesitate at all.' He never told me, 'Let's see how it feels, take out 10 or 15 balls and then play your game.' If you feel like going after the first ball, go for it."The message reflected Kohli's captaincy philosophy: trust your instincts, back your strengths and play without fear.A GOLDEN TEST ERAThe Kohli-Rahane partnership coincided with arguably the finest phase in India's Test history. Under Kohli's leadership, with Rahane serving as vice-captain and occasionally stepping in as captain, India became the world's No. 1-ranked Test side and developed into one of the most formidable travelling teams in world cricket.The pair played pivotal roles in India's first-ever Test series victory in Australia in 2018-19, ending a 71-year wait. Rahane scored a memorable century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as India sealed a historic 2-1 triumph.Two years later came an even greater achievement. After India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide and Kohli returned home on paternity leave, Rahane took over the captaincy and inspired one of the greatest comebacks in Test history. His match-winning century at the MCG set the tone for a remarkable 2-1 series victory, culminating in India's famous win at the Gabba, where Australia's 32-year unbeaten run came to an end.The duo also helped India dominate at home, hold the No. 1 ICC Test ranking for much of 2016 to 2021, qualify for the inaugural World Test Championship final and usher in a pace-bowling revolution under Kohli and Ravi Shastri that transformed India into a genuine force in overseas conditions.As Rahane looks back following his retirement, his assessment of the partnership feels fitting. Kohli brought the fire, Rahane supplied the calm, and together they forged one of India's greatest Test batting combinations while helping redefine what the Indian team could achieve in the longest format.- EndsPublished By: Amar PanickerPublished On: Aug 5, 2026 16:17 IST