Punam Raut’s cricket legacy beyond the numbers

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After retiring from international cricket, former batter leaves behind legacy of record partnerships and memorable 2017 World Cup campaign

By Manya Bhasin

Chandigarh: Some cricketing careers are remembered for explosive knocks and headline grabbing moments. Others leave their mark through patience, consistency and the ability to hold an innings together under pressure. Punam Raut’s international journey belonged to the latter category.

When the India batter announced her retirement from international cricket on October 15, she brought an end to a career that began in 2009 and spanned more than a decade. Her journey was shaped by the demands of international cricket, the discipline required to negotiate difficult phases and the determination to contribute to a team striving to establish itself on the world stage.

Raut represented India in four Tests, 73 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 35 T20 Internationals, scoring 3,282 runs across formats. Her record included 2,299 ODI runs, with three centuries and 15 half centuries, alongside 719 runs in T20 Internationals and 264 in Tests.

Beyond the numbers, her career highlighted the importance of stability. As a top order batter, Raut often anchored the innings, providing a foundation for her teammates to build on. The role demanded concentration, sound technique and the ability to absorb pressure when wickets fell at the other end.

One of the most remarkable chapters of her career came in 2017, when she partnered Deepti Sharma to produce a record breaking opening stand against Ireland during the Women’s Quadrangular Series in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

The pair added 320 runs for the first wicket, setting a landmark in women’s ODI cricket. Raut scored 109 off 116 deliveries, while Deepti went on to make 188. Their partnership brought together Raut’s measured approach and Deepti’s attacking stroke play, demonstrating how patience and aggression could combine to produce an extraordinary result.

That year also placed Raut at the heart of one of Indian women’s cricket’s most memorable campaigns. She was part of the team that reached the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup in England, scoring 381 runs during the tournament.

In the final against England at Lord’s, Raut scored a resolute 86, helping India remain in contention in a closely fought contest. India eventually lost by nine runs, but the campaign became a defining moment for women’s cricket in the country, bringing the team greater public attention and underlining its growing competitiveness.

Raut’s performances reflected the qualities that sustained her career. Her Test record included a century against South Africa in 2014, when she scored a career best 130. In ODIs, three centuries and 15 half centuries demonstrated her ability to turn starts into substantial contributions. Her last international appearance came against England in June 2021.

For a player whose value often lay in holding one end together, consistency was more than a statistic. It was a method built on reading the game, managing pressure and knowing when to consolidate and when to accelerate. Such contributions may receive less attention than spectacular finishes, but they remain central to a team’s success.

In her retirement statement on Instagram, Raut described representing India as the greatest honour of her life. She reflected on the sacrifices, struggles, victories and lessons that shaped her journey and thanked those who supported her career, including the Mumbai Cricket Association.

Her retirement does not mark a complete departure from cricket. Raut expressed her desire to give back to the sport that had given her purpose, identity and a family.

From the historic partnership with Deepti Sharma to the World Cup final at Lord’s, Raut’s journey featured moments that helped shape Indian women’s cricket. Her legacy rests not on a single innings, but on the discipline, resilience and quiet resolve with which she represented the country.

(The writer is an intern with The North News.)