Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 16: Veteran India women's cricketer Punam Raut has announced her retirement from international cricket across all formats, bringing an end to a career spanning from 2009 to 2021.

Raut, who turned 37 on October 14, represented India in four Tests, 73 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 35 T20 Internationals (T20Is).

She made her biggest contribution in the ODI format, scoring 2,299 runs in 73 matches at an average of 34.83. Raut also represented India in three Women's ODI World Cups in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

The 2017 World Cup was among the defining moments of her career, as India narrowly missed out on the title. The team's impressive campaign played a significant role in inspiring a new generation of women cricketers and raising the profile of women's cricket in the country.

In Test cricket, Raut began her career with a duck but went on to score 130 runs in just her third Test. In T20Is, she accumulated 719 runs in 35 matches at an average of 27.65.

Announcing her retirement in a statement on Instagram, Raut thanked her supporters and described representing India as the greatest honour of her life.

She said cricket had shaped her character, taught her resilience and given her memories she would cherish forever. Raut added that wearing the India jersey had been a dream come true and expressed gratitude for the trust and support she received throughout her career.

Reflecting on the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup, she said the tournament would always remain one of the most defining moments of her career. Although India fell short of winning the trophy, she said the campaign transformed women's cricket in the country, inspired young girls and helped change the future of the game.