Punam Raut takes retirement from international cricket [Source: AFP]Veteran Indian batter Punam Raut officially called time on her international career. She took to Instagram to announce her retirement, thus bringing an end to a 17-year-long remarkable career.Raut, 37, made her debut back in 2009. However, her later international appearance came in 2021 when she featured in the Test match against Australia Women at Carrara.Punam Raut quits India Women’s cricketMeanwhile, on October 15, Punam Raut officially announced her retirement from international cricket on Instagram. In an emotional message, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent India.She described her journey as one filled with sacrifices, struggles, victories and valuable lessons. She also made it clear that retiring from international cricket does not mean leaving the game entirely. She hopes to give back to cricket and contribute to the sport that shaped her life."Representing India was never just a dream fulfilled; it was a privilege I carried with immense pride. 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," Raut wrote in caption.With that, Punam Raut closes the curtains on a 17-year-long career. She represented India in 4 Tests, 73 ODIs and 35 T20s, scoring over 3000 runs combined.She also hit a century in red-ball cricket and 3 tons in ODIs. Moreover, Raut has 15 ODI half-centuries and four T20I half-centuries to her name as well.ALSO READHarmanpreet Kaur Quits India Captaincy Across All FormatsPunam Raut’s career highlightsNotably, Punam Raut’s career peaked during the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017 when India reached the final against England. She scored 381 runs in the tournament, including an 86-run knock in the final at Lord’s.She also scored 109 against Ireland and was involved in a record 320-run opening partnership with Deepti Sharma. Apart from white-ball cricket, Punam Raut played in India’s historic pink-ball Test against Australia in 2021.During the match, she edged a delivery but was given not out by the umpire. Despite the decision, she chose to walk off the field. Her decision was later praised as an example of sportsmanship and honesty.ALSO READIndia's T20I Record At M Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru Before IND vs WI 5th T20I, 2026
