Punam Raut recalls childhood trauma following India's Women's WC triumph
What's the story
After India's historic ICC Women's World Cup victory, Punam Raut has opened up about her own experiences of being bullied for playing cricket. The 2017 team member expressed her happiness over the win and how it has silenced those who doubted women's capabilities in sports. "When I started playing cricket, I experienced bullying. I was bullied by boys," she told Times of India in an exclusive interview.
Experience
Boys mocked her for playing cricket
Raut recalled how she was mocked by boys when she told them about her cricketing skills. "They said girls can't play cricket. I didn't like what they said. I was young, I was angry, but I couldn't express it at that time," she said. The taunts affected her deeply and fueled her determination to prove that girls can indeed play cricket.
Acknowledgment
Harmanpreet's message on t-shirt
Raut appreciated Harmanpreet Kaur's message on the back of her T-shirt after India's World Cup win. The India captain had written, "Cricket is a gentleman's EVERYONE'S game," with the word "gentleman's" crossed out. Raut said, "What Harmanpreet said - she was right. It was the goal of the team. Even in 2017, we played for that - for all those girls whose parents were restricting them."
Reflection
Nine-year-old wound healed
Raut also reflected on India's loss in the 2017 Women's World Cup final and how it haunted her for nine years. "The last time we lost the trophy by nine runs. That is a wound that hasn't healed yet. We should have scored those nine runs," she said. However, with this victory, she feels that bad memory has finally faded away, thanks to Harmanpreet's leadership and performance in the tournament.
Praise
Shafali Verma's late inclusion
Raut also praised Shafali Verma's late inclusion in the World Cup squad after Pratika Rawal was injured. Despite playing only two matches in the tournament, Shafali made a lasting impact with her all-round performance in the final against South Africa. "What Shafali said - that God has sent me here - she was absolutely right," Raut said, emphasizing how destiny played a role in this historic win for India.
Team spirit
Unity and maturity of Indian team
Raut emphasized the unity and maturity of the Indian team, which played a crucial role in their World Cup victory. She said, "I can see the confidence level in this team. It's the unity — they back each other. There's maturity in the players." Raut also credited their experience from past tournaments and exposure through WPL for building belief among players, making them more confident on such big stages.