Punam Raut, the accomplished right-handed batter, has officially announced her retirement from international cricket on October 15. Her cricketing journey started with her debut for India back in 2009 and concluded with her final appearance in 2021.
Illustrious Career Stats
During her time representing India, Raut amassed impressive statistics across all formats, including:
- One Day Internationals (ODIs): 2,299 runs in 73 matches
- Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is): 719 runs in 35 matches
- Test Matches: 264 runs in 4 matches
Notably, Raut registered four centuries—three in ODIs and one Test century against South Africa in 2014. She also achieved 15 half-centuries in ODIs and four in T20Is, demonstrating her consistency and skill as a batter.
Memorable Moments
Raut's career is marked by pivotal contributions, particularly during significant tournaments. In the 2017 Women's World Cup, she was instrumental as India reached the finals, scoring 381 runs throughout the tournament. Her standout performance in the final against England included a notable 86 run innings, helping keep India in contention until the very end.
She also recorded a remarkable 109 runs against Ireland in the same tournament, sharing a record 320-run opening partnership with Deepti Sharma—an achievement that highlighted her ability to perform under pressure.
More recently, Raut participated in India's historic pink-ball Test against Australia in 2021. Despite facing challenges, her resilience shone through as she scored 36 runs and garnered respect for her sportsmanship by walking after edging a delivery, even though the umpire declared her not out.
A Heartfelt Farewell
In her retirement announcement via Instagram, Raut reflected on her time in cricket with deep gratitude. She expressed, "From the streets of Mumbai to wearing the Indian jersey, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing, filled with sacrifices, struggles, unforgettable victories, 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."
Raut took a moment to thank her supporters and family for their unwavering belief in her throughout her career. "As I close this chapter of my international cricket career, my heart is filled with gratitude for everyone who believed in me. Cricket gave me more than a career—it gave me a purpose, an identity, and a family," she shared.
Looking toward the future, Raut expressed her desire to stay involved in the sport. She stated, "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."
