Punam Raut retires from international cricket
The right-handed batter, who made her international debut in 2009, last played for India in 2021
Punam Raut announced her retirement from international cricket on Thursday (October 15), bringing the curtain down on a career that spanned more than a decade. The right-handed batter, who made her international debut in 2009, last played for India in 2021.
Raut finished with 2299 runs in 73 ODIs, 719 runs in 35 T20Is, along with 264 runs in the four Tests she played for India. She scored four international hundreds - three in ODIs and one in the Test against South Africa in 2014 - along with 15 half-centuries in ODIs and four in T20Is. Her final international appearance came in an ODI against England in June 2021.
Raut's standout performances came during India's run to the 2017 Women's World Cup final, where she scored 381 runs, including 86 against England at Lord's in the final, which India lost by nine runs. In the same competition, she hit 109 against Ireland, sharing a record 320-run opening stand with Deepti Sharma.
In 2021, she featured in India's historic pink-ball Test against Australia, scoring 36 in the first innings, and earned praise for walking after edging a delivery despite being given not out.
In her retirement announcement on Instagram, Raut reflected on her journey. "From the streets of Mumbai to wearing the Indian jersey, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing. A journey filled with sacrifices, struggles, unforgettable victories, tough lessons, and moments I will cherish for a lifetime.
Representing India was never just a dream fulfilled; it was a privilege I carried with immense pride," she added. "As I close this chapter of my international cricket career, my heart is filled with gratitude for everyone who believed in me, stood by me, and became a part of my journey. Cricket gave me more than a career. It gave me a purpose, an identity, and a family."
Looking ahead to life after international cricket, Raut said she hoped to give back to the sport that had shaped her life. "The player in me may step aside, but the love for this game will never retire. My next innings is about giving back to the game that gave me everything."
