Ajinkya Rahane, who recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, has named Sachin Tendulkar as the greatest Indian cricketer of all time.

Appearing on an episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast, Rahane acknowledged that selecting just one player across different eras was challenging but ultimately chose the legendary Master Blaster.

“I think it’s very hard to take one name but… probably Sachin Tendulkar. I think all the eras," Rahane said.

Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of all time. He represented India in 200 Tests, scoring the world record number of runs (15921) and centuries (51).

While Tendulkar continues to hold the record for most ODI runs (18426 in 463 matches), his tally of hundreds (49) in the 50-over format has been surpassed by compatriot Virat Kohli (54).

During his playing days, the iconic cricketer used to carry the entire nation’s weight of expectations on his shoulders. He played a crucial role in bringing many laurels to the country, including the coveted World Cup trophy in 2011.

As skipper, Sachin Tendulkar led India in 25 Tests, registering 4 wins, 9 defeats while 12 matches ended in a draw. In ODIs, he captained India in 73 games, winning 23, losing 43, with one match ending in a tie and six producing no result.

Coming to Rahane, he was a cornerstone of India’s middle-order when the team held the No.1 Test rankings from 2016 to 2021.

The 38-year-old represented India in 85 Tests, amassing 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties. He featured in 90 ODIs, scoring 2,962 runs with 3 centuries and 24 half-centuries. He played 20 T20Is, scoring 375 runs.

Rahane also led India in 6 Tests, clinching 4 victories and 2 draws. His finest hour came when he took over a battered, injury-depleted Indian squad after the infamous "36 all-out" collapse in Adelaide. The elegant right-hander hit a masterful century at MCG to rally the team, eventually orchestrating an iconic 2-1 series victory in Australia.