Emerging from the living tapestry of Mumbai, Poonam Raut etched her name in the annals of Indian women’s cricket. A paragon of perseverance and a beacon of talent, he has consistently defied expectations, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.
A testament to his unwavering dedication, his journey began in the bustling streets of Mumbai where his innate passion for the game ignited. With every swing of his bat, he honed his skills, turning his raw potential into a formidable force. His rise to the national stage was the culmination of relentless hard work and unwavering belief.
The defining moment in his career came with a miracle in 2017 Deepti Sharmathey put their names in the book of records by forming a world record opening partnership. This epoch-making feat not only showcased Raut’s batting prowess but also highlighted his ability to construct gigantic innings under the most difficult conditions.
Despite the challenges he faced intermittently, including inconsistent selection and limited opportunities, Raut’s indomitable spirit remained strong. His versatility goes beyond batting as he also excels as a versatile goalkeeper, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Moreover, his leadership qualities have shone through, making him a valuable asset both on and off the field.
As she continues to inspire young women to follow their dreams, Poonam’s legacy as one of India’s most accomplished women cricketers is secure. Her journey is a reminder that even the most formidable challenges can be overcome with unwavering determination and an unwavering belief in one’s abilities.
Here are some highlights from the interview:
Q. How did your love for cricket start and what sparked your passion for the sport?
Punam: My childhood memories and home environment were filled with cricket and stalwart batsmen like the Indian cricket team at that time. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravidand Sourav Ganguly. All of them representing India were more entertaining to watch, especially in India-Pakistan matches. I started playing ball cricket with my brother and found it quite interesting as I enjoyed the way the ball connected to the bat.
But I remember this day, when I saw two boys my age getting down on the floor to train in white and black, I told my dad about it and tried to convince everyone in the family that I wanted to do this sport at summer camp. My father supported my interest and from there my journey as a gamer began. I met a lot of people during my journey, one name that made a huge impact was one of my first coaches, Sanjay Gaitonde, who saw me in a match his team was playing and told me to reign and go into bat. I was kind of shocked that a match is not something you see the ability of a beginner, but in the end it was a training match and I did well and trained under him for many years.
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Q. How did it feel to form a world record WODI partnership with Deepti Sharma?
Punam: Actually I never thought of breaking the record and we were preparing for the World Cup when we were playing a quadrangle series there, I knew I would open because of the role I was given and Deepti was also adamant about staying bat and open. with me in that match. I feel both of us focus more on the process, how we plan our shots and get into the rhythm of connecting the ball, Deepti, who is much younger, had just started her career, so there was a bit of understanding and the camaraderie that followed.
We both felt special, I wasn’t sure, but when I passed 300 I felt like it was a world record, but when it came out, it really was a world record.
Q. How did you mentally handle the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup final defeat?
Punam: It was certainly a big match and it was very disappointing for us to lose a match like that, to be so close to lifting the title and not be able to finish it off. It was a dream to win the World Cup and to play in the final after such a long time was something special and we tried our hearts out but still lost very close by a measly margin of 9 runs. The locker room was kind of a mess and everyone was in tears and crying and it’s not in our hands to win and lose, but I can say it was the saddest moment of my life.
I remember I stayed in London for 1 day Julan Goswami was with me, he said, “We don’t know what we lost right now, but when you and I, or every member of this team, is alone in our rooms, we’re probably all going to think about this game and think a lot about what we did wrong.” And he was absolutely right about that.
Q. How was the dressing room with Mithali Raj and Julan Goswami?
Punam: They were old for us but very approachable, fun and cheerful, both were calm and never pressured us into doing anything we didn’t want to do. It’s not easy being a senior member of the team, but both of them have always been supportive and helpful to the young people, and to the people who guide the young people in our approach to the problem.
In fact, I feel very lucky to have played with them as both of them inspired me when I aspired to become a cricketer since childhood. It was a dream to play with them and share the dressing room.
Q. Do you have a favorite team to face and why?
Punam: I have two teams actually, one is Australia and the other is England, I think they have a pretty remarkable bowling attack that I love to face. We can see in the World Cup as well, I fought well against England and I also got a century against Australia. If we need a team to pick for sure, it would be Australia.
Watch the full interview:
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This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
