An Exclusive Interview with star India player Punam Raut: Role models, cricketing journey, favourite memories, Women’s ODI World Cup 2017 setback

Emerging from the vibrant tapestry of Mumbai, Punam Raut has woven her name into the annals of Indian women’s cricket. A paragon of perseverance and a beacon of talent, she has consistently defied expectations, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

Her journey, a testament to her unwavering dedication, began in the bustling streets of Mumbai, where her innate passion for the game ignited. With each stroke of her bat, she honed her skills, transforming raw potential into a formidable force. Her ascent to the national stage was a culmination of relentless toil and unwavering belief.

A defining moment in her career arrived in 2017 when she, along with the prodigious Deepti Sharma, etched their names in the record books by forging a world-record opening partnership. This epochal feat not only showcased Raut’s batting prowess but also underscored her ability to construct formidable innings under the most exacting circumstances.

Despite facing intermittent challenges, including inconsistent selection and limited opportunities, Raut’s indomitable spirit has remained steadfast. Her versatility extends beyond batting, as she has also distinguished herself as a dexterous wicket-keeper, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Moreover, her leadership qualities have shone through, making her a valuable asset both on and off the field.

As she continues to inspire young women to chase their dreams, Punam’s legacy as one of India’s most accomplished women cricketers is secure. Her journey serves as a poignant reminder that with unwavering determination and an unwavering belief in one’s abilities, even the most formidable challenges can be surmounted.

Here are some highlights from the interview:

Q. How did your love for cricket begin, and what sparked your passion for the sport?

Punam: My childhood memories and my household atmosphere was full of cricket, and at that time Indian Cricket team was full of stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly. It was fun to watch all of them representing India, especially more fun in India-Pakistan matches. I just started playing with my brother in gully cricket and found the thing quite intriguing as well, because I was enjoying how ball was getting connected to my bat.

But I remember this day, when I saw two boys of my age going to the ground in cricket whites to practice, I told my father about it and tried to convince everyone in the family that I want to play this sport in the summer camp. My father did support my interest and from there on, my journey as a player started. I met many people during my journey one name which made a big impact was my one of the first coaches Sanjay Gaitonde, he saw me during a match where his team was playing and told me to pad up and go out to bat. I was kind of shocked that a match is not something where you see a newbie’s capability but it was at the end a practice match and I also performed well and got trained under him for years to come.

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Q. How did it feel to set the world record WODI partnership with Deepti Sharma?

Punam: Actually, I never thought of making a record and we were there preparing for the World Cup while playing a quadrangular series, I knew that I would be opening because of the role given to me, and Deepti too was adamant to have a stick and open with me in that match. We both, I feel were focusing more in the process, how to plan our innings and as we got into the rhythm of connecting the ball, Deepti who was more of a junior was just starting her career, so there was a bit of understanding and camaraderie that followed.

We both felt special, I was not sure but I felt it was a world record when we crossed 300 but when we came out it indeed was a world record.

Q. How did you handle the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup final loss mentally?

Punam: It was of course a big match and losing a match in that fashion, coming too close to lift the title and not able to finish it off was something very denting for us. Winning a World Cup was a dream and playing in the final after such a long time was something special and we tried our hearts out but still lost so close by a meagre 9 runs difference. Dressing room was kind of shattered and everybody was in tears, crying, and see winning and losing is not in our hands but I can say it was my life’s saddest moment.

I remember there was a 1 day stay in Lonon where Jhulan Goswami was with me, she said that “We don’t know what we lost right now, but when you and I or every member of this team will be alone in their room we all will apparently think about this game and will overthink about what we did wrong.” And she was absolutely right about it.

Q. How was it sharing dressing room with Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami?

Punam: They were seniors to us but were too approachable, fun and jolly, both were calm headed and never pressurised us for doing something that we didn’t want. Being a senior member of the team isn’t easy but they both were always supportive, helpful to youngsters and people who guided us youngsters on our approach towards a problem.

In fact, I feel very lucky to have played with them, as they both were something that inspired me, when I aspired to be a cricketer from childhood, watching them on television playing cricket at a young age. It was a dream come true, playing with them and sharing the dressing room with them.

Q. Do you have a favourite team to play against and why?  

Punam:  I have two teams actually one is Australia and the other one is England, I think these two teams have a quite remarkable bowling attack which I love to face. We can see in the World Cup too, I batted fine against England and I have a century too against Australia. If we need one team to be picked for sure then it would be Australia.

Watch the full interview:

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.