Name Hindi: पूनम राऊत / Gender Woman
Poonam Raut: The Unsung Heroine of Indian Cricket
Born in the bustling city of Mumbai, Punam Ganesh Raut, more popularly known as Poonam Raut, is a figure who needs no introduction when it comes to women’s cricket in India. From her incredible batting average to her intimidating performance on the field, she has proven time and again that she’s one of the best assets the country could have for cricket.
About Poonam Raut
Raut was born on 14 October 1989 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. She embarked on her journey to carve out an impressive career in cricket at a young age under the careful training and undying support of her father Ganesh, an avid cricket fan himself.
Initially groomed under coach Anant Tambvekar at the Vengsarkar Cricket Academy (ONGC), she polished her skills and exhibited sheer brilliance from a tender age – a vision which later saw her being selected for international matches.
Career Highlights
- In June 2014, Raut scored an unbeaten 100 off 108 balls against England Women during Quadrangular Series, cementing her talent both nationally and internationally.
- The real breakthrough came along Ice-Cream Cup in South Africa where Raut emerged with flying colors averaging around 67 runs per matchin August, 2008.
- She played a key role in driving Team India towards their first ever World Cup finals in the year 2017. Scoring an impressive knock of whopping 86 runs gave India an upper hand during the semi finals against Australia leading them towards a historic win.
- She broke her own record of 109 runs in One Day Internationals cricket by scoring 132 not out against Ireland women’s team on May, 2017 thereby engraving her name alongside top players.
Legacy and Contribution to Indian Cricket
Poonam Raut is undoubtedly one of the most successful and consistent openers for Team India. Her versatile playing style coupled with intense dedication has revolutionized women cricket landscape. An Arjuna Awardee, Poonam serves as an inspiration for young talents who aspire to make their mark in cricket.
- Raut is celebrated for her aggressive style of play and commanding control over drives which makes her a desired asset in ODIs.
- In terms of statistics, she remains among elite group having scored more than 2500 runs in One Day Internationals (ODI).
- Apart from her brilliance with bat, she also excels as a right-arm off break bowler adding versatility to her skills set.
Despite facing numerous hardships and challenges coming from humble beginnings; Raut’s determination, undying spirit and love for game never diminished. Achieving such great feats and leaving huge impact on Indian women cricket speaks volume about Poonam Raut – the unsung heroine of Indian cricket.
