Punam Raut has officially retired from international cricket, ending a 12-year tenure with the Indian women’s team that was defined by resilience and record-breaking performances. The former opening batter announced her departure earlier this month, not due to a lack of desire, but after a four-year struggle to reclaim her spot in the squad. Despite scoring consistently in domestic cricket and recovering from illness, the call for a comeback never materialized. “I always had the desire to return to the Indian team,” Raut told TimesofIndia.com. “Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.” Her last international appearance was in 2021, marking the end of an era for one of India’s most reliable top-order batters.
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Raut’s legacy is cemented by her 2,299 runs in 73 One Day Internationals, including two of the most iconic moments in Indian women’s cricket history. In 2017, she shared a world-record 320-run opening partnership with Deepti Sharma against Ireland, a feat that still stands as a benchmark for the format. That same year, she scored a crucial 86 in the Women’s World Cup final at Lord’s, helping India reach the pinnacle of the sport despite a narrow nine-run defeat to England. These performances were instrumental in shifting the national narrative, proving that women’s cricket could command the same attention and passion as the men’s game.
Beyond the statistics, Raut’s impact is measured by the cultural shift she helped catalyze. She recalls receiving messages from young girls whose parents began encouraging them to take up cricket after witnessing India’s 2017 campaign. Her journey began in an era when women’s cricket offered few career guarantees, yet she persisted to become a cornerstone of the team’s growth. As she steps away, Raut leaves behind a foundation that has expanded the sport’s reach in India, ensuring that her influence extends far beyond her final innings.
Source: Yahoo Sports
