Poonam Raut’s departure from international cricket is not merely the end of a storied 12-year career; it is the closing of a chapter for a player who bridged the gap between an era of scarcity and the current golden age of Indian women’s cricket. With 2,299 runs in 73 ODIs to her name, Raut’s decision to retire earlier this month comes after four long years of relentless, yet ultimately unrewarded, efforts to return to the national setup.
“I always had the desire to return to the Indian team,” Raut told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview. “Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I did everything I could for the country.”
A Long Walk Back
Since her last international appearance in 2021, Raut’s life became a masterclass in persistence. Despite stellar domestic seasons where she consistently finished among the leading run-scorers and excelled in the demanding format of multi-day cricket, the national selectors opted to pivot toward a younger demographic.
Raut acknowledges the transition with the grace of a veteran who understands the cyclical nature of sport. “The selectors are focusing on youngsters, and I felt it was becoming difficult to continue at this stage of my career,” she admits.
Her retirement was not driven by a lack of hunger, but rather a realization of physical limitations. A series of health setbacks, including a bout of dengue followed by pneumonia, left her body struggling to recover with the same vitality it once possessed. Coupled with a burgeoning passion for coaching—where she is currently mentoring a group of 14- and 15-year-old prospects—Raut realized it was time to step aside to give her pupils the focus they deserve.
The 2017 Catalyst
When asked about her defining moments, it is impossible to ignore the 2017 Women’s World Cup final. While India suffered a heart-wrenching nine-run defeat to England at Lord’s, Raut’s gritty 86-run knock remains etched in the collective memory of Indian sports fans.
Beyond the statistics, the tournament served as a societal turning point. Raut recalls reading emotional messages from young girls and their parents on the eve of the final, stories of families who had previously discouraged their daughters from playing cricket, only to have a change of heart after watching the team’s grit.
“Imagine parents who had earlier refused to let their daughters play cricket now encouraging them to pursue it,” Raut reflects. “Some girls even told me they wanted to cut their hair like ‘Poonam Di.’ Reading those messages made me realize that we had genuinely brought about a change.”
From Scarcity to Structure
Raut’s own introduction to the sport was a testament to sacrifice. At a time when women’s cricket was far from a viable career path, her father relied on the financial support of his employer just to procure her first kit.
“You won’t believe how much that kit meant to me,” she says. “I used that kit carefully for around five years because I knew how special it was.”
Today, the landscape is unrecognizable. Raut is quick to credit the BCCI for the increased frequency of matches and the transformative impact of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). She believes the current pathway—from age-group tournaments to “A” team tours—has created a robust ecosystem that will soon allow India to dominate global rivals like Australia and England consistently.
Leadership and the Future
Discussing the current state of leadership within the squad, Raut is highly optimistic about the future under captains like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana. She notes that Mandhana, in particular, seems to elevate her game under the pressure of the captaincy, as evidenced by her leadership in the WPL.
As for her own future, while the international pitch is now in her rearview mirror, the crease remains her home. She is currently exploring avenues in coaching, mentorship, and potentially broadcasting, though she remains firmly grounded in her present work with the youth.
“Success doesn’t come overnight,” she advises the next generation of aspirants. “Many youngsters tell me they want to make it to the WPL as quickly as possible. But that’s not how sport works. You need to be patient and understand that development takes time. Don’t look for shortcuts.”
Poonam Raut exits the international stage not with a trophy, but with a legacy that transcends scorecards. She is a pioneer who fought for her space when the ground beneath her feet was far from level, and she now leaves the game with the satisfaction of knowing she helped clear the path for the thousands of young girls who will follow in her footsteps.
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