Punam Raut: An unsung hero who never needed attention

India will remember 2017 as the year women’s cricket began to find its voice. Smriti Mandhana dazzled with her elegance, Harmanpreet Kaur unleashed a breathtaking 171 against Australia and Mithali Raj grabbed attention with her batting and now famous a picture of him reading a book.

Amidst all the noise was Punam Raut. Short in stature, she lacked Mandhana’s flamboyance and Harmanpreet’s combativeness, but had a quiet resilience of her own. She was one of a kind, pocket dynamite and one of the main architects of India’s memorable run to the final.

Punam scored 381 runs in nine matches, including a brilliant 106 against Australia in the league stage. She started the tournament with 86 against England in the opener and then scored another 86 in the final. These innings helped define India’s campaign.

Nine years later, Punam bid farewell to the highest format of the gamewho last represented India in their first ever women’s day-night Test in 2021. It will never be easy for a cricketer who has given so much to the sport to walk away.

THE BODY THAT GAVE UP

Punam Raut scores a century against Australia in Bristol at World Cup 2017. Courtesy: Reuters

Her bout with dengue and chikungunya last year took a toll on her health and she struggled with persistent joint pain for months. The disease finally forced her to face a difficult reality: sometimes even the desire to continue playing cannot overcome what the body can withstand.

“For the last five months, I was thinking about retirement but I was not quite mentally ready for the decision. Last year I was diagnosed with dengue fever and later I suffered from chikungunya for almost five months. The disease caused me significant joint pain and other complications,” Punam said in an exclusive interview with India Today.

“I recovered before the season and played for Mumbai last year. However, I missed the T20 format and only played one-dayers. The effects were still there and I was not able to give 100 per cent consistently. After fielding, I felt considerable pain and discomfort the next day, which affected my recovery.”

“In the end I felt I needed to stop playing for a while and see how my body reacts. I also wanted a mental break because I felt I had achieved what I wanted as a player and I didn’t see much motivation to continue. I wanted to feel better physically and take time to make the right decision,” Punam said.

TOO MUCH ON THE PLATE

Punam Raut was India’s second highest run-scorer at the Women’s World Cup 2017. Courtesy: Getty Images

Even though she was away from competitive cricket, Punam was not ready to sit still. She kept active through lawn tennis and other sports, trying to stay connected to the game in her own way. But getting into coaching brought a different set of challenges.

Juggling his own cricket, coaching commitments and a body still trying to recover proved difficult. In the end, she had to choose between extending her playing career and devoting herself to raising the next generation.

“I didn’t do much exercise during the break, but I stayed active through training and other sports, including lawn tennis and other short-term games. Finally, I felt it was time to make a call,” Punam said.

“I have been coaching and mentoring young girls and boys for the last three to four years. Balancing playing and coaching is difficult. Last season when I was playing for Mumbai, I couldn’t spend enough time with the youth because I was concentrating on my own game and recovery. With so many young and budding cricketers, I want to help them. That’s why I decided to retire,” Punam said.

REGRET

Punam Raut scores 86 in final of Women’s World Cup 2017. Courtesy: Reuters

For Punam, retirement marks the end of a career full of memories, but one evening at Lord’s may remain bittersweet forever. On 23 July 2017, she came agonizingly close to helping India win their maiden Women’s World Cup title, but when victory seemed within reach, her heart sank.

Chasing 229 against England in the final, Punam was towering with a blistering 86 and forged crucial partnerships with Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy. India were cruising at 191 for 3 before Anya Shrubsole trapped Punam lbw, triggering a dramatic collapse. India lost their last seven wickets for just 28 runsnine runs short of the title. Shrubsole finished with figures of 9.4-0-46-4, dealing a decisive blow to India’s hopes.

“My only regret is that I couldn’t win the World Cup for India in 2017. Other than that, I have no regrets. I gave my all to the sport and put in all my efforts, worked honestly and approached training and practice with discipline,” Punam said.

“Obviously I would have liked us to win the World Cup in 2017, but we also did a lot for India and it was a great experience. That remains my only regret. I felt at the time that we had a great chance to win it and it would be great if we did.”

Still, the heartbreak of that final did not define how the team is remembered.

“However, the love and appreciation we received from people meant we never felt like we went home as losers or played badly. We played good cricket and people recognized it. That was a positive thing and our eventual World Cup triumph in 2025 made it even more special,” Punam said.

Punam gave everything she had that night, but cricket can be cruel. India has fallen painfully short of history, leaving behind a memory of what might have been. As she walks away from the game, the 2017 final remains her only lingering regret, a reminder that sometimes, even when a player gives it their all, the ultimate prize remains just out of reach.

HAPPY MEMORIES

India won the 2012 Women’s Asia Cup after defeating Pakistan in the final. Courtesy: Reuters

While the 2017 FIFA World Cup remains a defining chapter in Punam’s career, another triumph holds a special place in her heart: India’s win over Pakistan in the 2012 Women’s Asia Cup final in China. In a low-scoring thriller, India were bowled out for 81 before their bowlers bundled out Pakistan for 63 in 19.1 overs to seal an 18-run win.

Punam was named player of the match after he top scored with 25 on a difficult batting surface. She also produced a brilliant direct hit to dismiss Nida Dar, who played a key role in India’s memorable triumph.

“One of my most memorable moments was our win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final. It was a very low-scoring game where India only managed about 81 runs if I remember correctly. As you know, playing Pakistan brings its own pressure but we managed to win despite a low total. We were playing in China and the pitch was unprepared and not ideal for batting, especially in the Punam T20 format.”

“I scored about 25 runs, which was the highest score in that low-scoring match. I also remember taking a good catch in the deep at the spot and making a great run. The way the Indian team achieved victory despite the low score is a moment I will remember forever.”

Another milestone that continues to define Punam’s legacy is her record partnership with Deepti Sharma. Their monumental 320-run stand against Ireland in 2017 remains the highest partnership in women’s ODI history.

“Another special moment was the world record partnership with Deepti Sharma. These days, people often recognize me for that record partnership. Both these moments were incredibly special to me, even after the 2017 World Cup,” Punam added.

TRANSITION TO COACHING AND MENTORING

Punam Raut is now coaching youth and transitioning from playing career. Courtesy: Punam Raut Instagram

For years, Punam Raut made her bat talk. Now that she is retiring from the field as a player, she is finding a new calling in shaping the cricketers of tomorrow. Her coaching journey began in Mumbai in 2022 when her coach encouraged her to play club cricket alongside youngsters and experience the competitive standards of the city. What she discovered went beyond the game: raw talent waiting for the right guidance.

“I started playing club cricket in Mumbai in 2022 after my coach suggested that I play alongside the young players to understand the standard of cricket there. I realized that they are extremely talented but need proper guidance.”

“While I had special leave from the railways, I used to finish my practice at noon or 1 pm and spend the rest of the day coaching them. Over the next three to four years, I saw their improvement and decided to take up coaching more seriously.”

Determined to turn this passion into a profession, Punam completed the BCCI Level 2 coaching course around 2023-24. Years of learning from the coaches who shaped her own career helped her gain a deeper understanding of the game. Today, she mentors youngsters at her academy, including girls who have represented Mumbai.

“I completed the BCCI Level 2 coaching course around 2023-24 and learned a lot by watching the coaches who coached me since childhood. Having worked with my batting coach for about 25 years, I have deepened my knowledge of batting and bowling. Some of the youngsters in my academy are now playing in the under-15 and senior age groups, while a few girls are representing Mumbai.

“Coaching goes beyond technical skills. You have to work on the mindset of young people and prepare them to compete. I really enjoy it and watching them improve and perform well gives me a different kind of satisfaction.”

THE UNSUNG HERO

Punam Raut has played 4 women’s test in her career. Courtesy: Reuters

Punam Raut made her international debut in 2009, the same year as Harmanpreet Kaur and several of her contemporaries. Their journeys took different paths, with Harmanpreet, Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj becoming household names.

Punam, meanwhile, remained a quieter presence, rarely a first name on fans’ lips when the conversation turned to Indian cricket. However, her contribution to the game was never defined by the recognition she received.

Punam was small in stature but never short on performance. She strode to the crease with quiet determination, carrying the team’s hopes and delivering when it mattered most. The heartbreak of the 2017 World Cup final may have stayed with her, but it cannot diminish the role she played in the campaign that helped Indian women’s cricket capture the nation’s imagination.

Now that she is retiring from acting, Punam is starting a new shift. Through coaching, he hopes to nurture young talent and impart career lessons based on grit, discipline and honesty.

She may not have always basked in the limelight, but she helped pave the way for India to eventually conquer the world. She may have been small in stature, but the mark she leaves on Indian cricket is anything but small.

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