NEWS
Punam Raut is an Indian cricketer and opener who plays the women’s international cricket team. Raut was an integral part of Mumbai and Railways’ women’s team. The stylish batter is especially known for playing long innings. She has played in the sports’ all three formats. Punam made her ODI debut in 2009 and has been playing in the national side ever since.
One of her best innings came against South Africa, when she put up a 300-run opening partnership with Deepti Sharma, becoming the first pair to achieve the feat in the process.
| Full Name | Punam Ganesh Raut |
|---|---|
| Role | Batswoman |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm offspin |
| Hometown | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Height | 5ft 1in (1.55 m) |
| Age | 26 years (14 October 1989) |
| International Runs (ODI, T20) | (1697,719) |
| Major Teams Featured For | India Green Women, India Women, Mumbai Women, West Zone Women |
Punam was born in a Prabhadevi chawl in Mumbai. Punam had a deep fondness, a passion to play cricket. So much so that she wanted to pursue the sport full time. Her father, Ganesh Raut, was a car driver, and the family had limited resources. However, luck shined when Ganesh’s American boss helped him by giving Rs. 10,000, a big amount in that time. He immediately bought Punam new kit, shoes and outfit. Furthermore, Ganesh even enrolled her at Shiv Seva Sports Club. It was a cricket academy overseen by a coach named Sanjay Gaitonde.
To this day, Ganesh acknowledges his boss’s contribution, even stating that
Punam would not have been a cricketer had it not been for the ₹ 10,000 my American boss gave me
In 2004, an unprecedented incident shook the Raut household- the sudden demise of Punam’s mother. The entire family was in deep grief. However, the following day, Punam had her first ever cricket trials. It was Ganesh who supported and took Punam to the trials. He encouraged her to play her game and to just focus on the game.
The result – Punam was selected for both the Mumbai U14 and U19. There was no looking back.
Punam went on to play for the Railways team and also debuted for the Indian national team in 2009. She has become a mainstay and an indispensable player at the opening position for India. Following are some of her most memorable knocks in the Women’s ODI for India.
Punam Raut and Deepti Sharma scripted history by becoming the first cricketing pair to share a 300-run opening partnership in Women’s ODIs. They set the record at the league match of the Women’s Quadrangular Series in South Africa, posting 320-runs for the first wicket in 45.3 overs. It was the first time that a Women’s ODI pair had scored a 300+ runs stand. They could have extended their partnership had it not been for Raut’s injury, due to which she had to retire from the innings. However, she still managed to score 109* runs, her highest knock in ODI.
Punam Raut in 2017 World Cup
Punam Raut’s best series performance came in the 2018 Women’s World Cup, where she played some of the most consistent knocks of her career.
She had a vital 86 runs in the first match against England to guide the team to an easy 7-wicket win with 45 balls to spare. Raut continued her form by scoring. She again scored a crucial 47-runs (the highest of the match) in a low scoring match against Pakistan where India finished with 169/9. However, they went on to defeat their neighbours quite comfortably, sending the Pakistan team for a paltry 74 runs.
Her best knock of the tournament thus far came in the group-stage match against Australia, in which she scored 106 runs. Her ton, though, went in vain, as the team lost the match by 8 wickets.
In the final, Raut lead from the front. India had restricted the hosts to 228 runs. They needed a good opening partnership to surmount the tricky total. And Raut was again at the ready to deliver. She scored an inspiring knock of 86-runs against England to provide for a good foundation for her side to build upon. However, the visitors fell just short of the target, after a middle-order capitulation. She was the highest scorer of that match.
Punam Raut
The USP of Punam’s batting is her ability to play for an extended period of time. The point is highlighted by the fact that she has scored 10 half centuries and two centuries. Punam also has a healthy average of 32. She likes to play it safe, build partnership and then pass on the batton over to the big-hitters towards the end of the match.
Famous Quote
“India Gifted the World Cup to England”, after the Indian Women teams 9-run loss to England in the World Cup finals.
Punam Raut with her family
Punam Raut was born on 14 October 1989 in a lower-middle-class family in Prabhadevi. Her father, Ganesh Raut is a car driver. Punam lost her mother when she was just 15-years-old. She has two siblings, a sister named Shrutika Ghadi Pevekar, and a brother by the name Vipul Raut.
Punam Raut is categorized as a grade ‘C’ according to BCCI’s latest central contract system. As a result, Raut earns ₹ 10 lakhs per annum for featuring in the Indian national side. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jhulan Goswami, and Mithali Raj, who are all grade ‘A’ players, bag ₹ 50 lakh per annum.
2017 ICC Women’s World Cup Runner-Up
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