Ajinkya Rahane is set for his maiden overseas T20 gig after signing with Amsterdam Flames as their marquee player for the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). The signing was announced on Friday, eight days after the former India captain called time on his international and IPL career.
While largely renowned for his exploits in whites, Rahane boasts of a rich experience of 308 T20s to his credit. He has scored 7968 runs in the format at an average of 30.29 and a strike-rate of 126.77, with 56 half-centuries and two hundreds to go with it.
“Cricket has given me so much, and I’ve always believed that players have a responsibility to leave the game stronger than they found it. Europe is entering an exciting phase and has the potential to become one of cricket’s most promising frontiers,” Rahane said about playing the ETPL.
“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 while helping inspire the next generation and strengthen cricket’s future across Europe,” he added.
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh, who is the co-founder and Chief Cricket Officer of the Flames, welcomed Rahane’s signing.
“Ajinkya Rahane represents everything you want in a professional cricketer—skill, resilience, humility and leadership,” Waugh said.
“Throughout his career he has earned enormous respect across the cricket world, not only for his performances but for the way he has conducted himself on and off the field. I’ve seen first-hand the composure and leadership he brings under pressure, and those qualities help shape winning cultures. His experience, leadership and character will be invaluable as we build Amsterdam Flames into one of Europe’s premier cricket clubs.”
Rahane joins a star-studded Flames outfit that includes Steve Smith, Tim David, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Marsh. The latter will captain the side, with ETPL 2026 set to get underway on August 26.
