Indian batter Punam Raut announced her retirement from international cricket on October 16, concluding a career that spanned over a decade. She represented India in four Test matches, 73 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 35 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) between 2009 and 2021.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Raut reflected on her journey, describing it as “filled with sacrifices, struggles, unforgettable victories, tough lessons, and moments I will cherish for a lifetime.” She said, “One last time, for the little girl who dared to dream. From the streets of Mumbai to wearing the Indian jersey, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing.”
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Raut, aged 37, called playing for India “a privilege I carried with immense pride.” She added that cricket provided her with “more than a career. It gave me a purpose, an identity and a family.” She expressed gratitude to all who supported her, stating, “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. Thank you, India.”
During her ODI career, Punam scored 2,299 runs at an average of 34.83, including three centuries and 15 half-centuries, with a highest score of 109 not out. In her four Test matches, she amassed 264 runs at an average of 44.00, including one century and a best score of 130. In T20Is, she scored 719 runs at an average of 27.65, recording four half-centuries and a top score of 75.
Raut was a key contributor to India’s runner-up finish at the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup, scoring 381 runs in nine innings at an average of 42.33, which included one century and two half-centuries, with a highest score of 106. She finished as the tournament’s fifth-highest run-scorer.
Source: thenewsmill.com
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