Punam Raut: The unsung hero who never needed the spotlight

Speaking to India Today, Punam Raut reflects on her decision to retire, the heartbreak of the 2017 Women's World Cup final, and the defining moments of a career built on grit and discipline. The unsung hero of Indian women's cricket now looks forward to mentoring the next generation, hoping to shape future champions beyond the spotlight.

India will remember 2017 as the year women's cricket began finding its voice. Smriti Mandhana dazzled with her elegance, Harmanpreet Kaur unleashed a breathtaking 171 against Australia, and Mithali Raj hogged the limelight with her batting and the now-famous picture of her reading a book.

Amid all the noise, there was Punam Raut. Short in stature, she lacked Mandhana's flamboyance and Harmanpreet's belligerence but possessed a quiet resilience of her own. She was one of a kind, a pocket-sized dynamite, and one of the chief 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 began the tournament with 86 against England in the opener and then notched another 86 in the final. Those innings helped define India's campaign.

Nine years later, Punam has bid farewell to the highest format of the game, having last represented India in their first-ever Day-Night Women's Test in 2021. For a cricketer who gave so much to the sport, walking away was never going to be easy.

THE BODY THAT GAVE UP

Her battle with dengue and chikungunya last year took a heavy toll on her health, leaving her struggling with persistent joint pain for months. Eventually, the illness forced her to confront a difficult reality: sometimes, even the desire to keep playing cannot overcome what the body has endured.

"For the last five months, I had been thinking about retirement, but I wasn't completely mentally prepared to make the decision. Last year, I was diagnosed with dengue and later suffered from chikungunya for nearly five months. The illness left me with significant joint pain and other complications," Punam told India Today in an exclusive interview.

"I recovered before the season and played for Mumbai last year. However, I missed the T20 format and played only the one-day matches. The effects were still there and I wasn't able to give my 100 percent consistently. After fielding, I would experience considerable pain and discomfort the following day, which affected my recovery."

"I eventually felt I needed to stop playing for some time and see how my body responded. I also wanted a mental break because I felt I had achieved what I wanted to as a player and couldn't see much motivation to continue. I wanted to feel physically better and take time to make the right decision," Punam said.

TOO MUCH ON THE PLATE

Even when she was away from competitive cricket, Punam wasn't ready to sit still. She kept herself active through lawn tennis and other sports, trying to stay connected to the game in her own way. But taking up coaching brought a different set of challenges.

Juggling her own cricket, coaching commitments and a body still struggling to recover proved difficult. Eventually, she had to choose between extending her playing career and dedicating herself to nurturing the next generation.

"During the break, I wasn't practising much, but I remained active through training and other sports, including lawn tennis and other short-duration games. Eventually, I felt it was time to make the 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 played for Mumbai, I couldn't devote enough time to the youngsters because I was focused on my own game and recovery. With so many young and emerging cricketers coming through, I want to help them. That is why I decided to retire," Punam said.

THE REGRET

For Punam, retirement brings an end to a career filled with memories, but one evening at Lord's will perhaps always remain bittersweet. On July 23, 2017, she came agonisingly close to helping India win their maiden Women's World Cup title, only for heartbreak to strike when victory seemed within reach.

Chasing 229 against England in the final, Punam stood tall with a gritty 86, forging 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 runs, falling nine runs short of the title. Shrubsole finished with figures of 9.4-0-46-4, delivering 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 everything to the sport and put in all my effort, working honestly and approaching practice and training with discipline," Punam said.

"Of course, I wish we had won the World Cup in 2017, but we also achieved a lot for India, and that was a great experience. That remains my only regret. At the time, I felt we had a great chance to win it, and it would have been wonderful if we had."

Yet, the heartbreak of that final did not define how the team was remembered.

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

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

THE HAPPY MEMORIES

While the 2017 World Cup remains a defining chapter in Punam's career, another triumph holds a special place in her heart: India's victory 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 Pakistan out for 63 in 19.1 overs to seal an 18-run win.

Punam was named Player of the Match after top-scoring with 25 on a difficult batting surface. She also produced a brilliant direct-hit run-out to dismiss Nida Dar, playing a crucial role in India's memorable triumph.

"One of my most memorable moments was our victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final. It was a very low-scoring game, with India managing only around 81 runs, if I remember correctly. Playing Pakistan brings its own pressure, as you know, but we managed to win despite the low total. We were playing in China, and the pitch was underprepared and not ideal for batting, especially in the T20 format," Punam said.

"I scored around 25 runs, which was the highest score in that low-scoring match. I also remember taking a good catch in the deep at point and effecting a brilliant run-out. The way the Indian team pulled off that victory despite the low score makes it a moment I will always remember."

Another milestone that continues to define Punam's legacy is her record-breaking partnership with Deepti Sharma. Their monumental 320-run stand against Ireland in 2017 remains the highest partnership in the history of Women's ODIs.

"The other special moment was the world-record partnership with Deepti Sharma. These days, people often recognise me for that record partnership. Both these moments have been incredibly special to me, even beyond the 2017 World Cup," Punam added.

THE COACHING AND MENTORING TRANSITION

For years, Punam Raut made her bat do the talking. Now, as she steps away 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 city's competitive standards. 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 young players to understand the standard of cricket there. I realised they were immensely talented but needed proper guidance.

"While on special leave from the Railways, I would finish my practice by 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 pursue coaching more seriously."

Determined to turn that 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 develop a deeper understanding of the game. Today, she mentors youngsters at her academy, including girls who have gone on to represent Mumbai.

"I completed the BCCI Level 2 coaching course around 2023-24 and learnt a lot by observing the coaches who had trained me since childhood. Having worked with my batting coach for around 25 years, I developed a deeper understanding of batting and bowling. Some youngsters at my academy now play in the Under-15 and senior age groups, while a few girls represent Mumbai.

"Coaching goes beyond technical skills. You have to work on youngsters' mindsets and prepare them for competition. I genuinely enjoy it, and watching them improve and perform well gives me a different kind of satisfaction."

THE UNSUNG HERO

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 going on to become household names.

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

Punam was short in stature, but was never short on performance. She walked to the crease with quiet determination, carrying the hopes of a team 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 a campaign that helped Indian women's cricket capture the nation's imagination.

Now, as she steps away from playing, Punam begins a new innings. Through coaching, she hopes to nurture young talent and pass on the lessons of a career built on grit, discipline and honesty.

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