Kolkata: Comeback queen Rumeli retires

KOLKATA: Indian cricket’s comeback queen Rumeli Dhar announced her retirement from all formats of the game on Wednesday. Rumeli burst into the international scene in 2003, making her debut against England in ODIs at Lincoln. An attacking top-order batter, an accurate medium-pacer and a prolific fielder, Rumeli was the x-factor of the Indian team.
“23 years of my cricket career that started from Shyamnagar in Bengal, has finally come to an end as I announce retirement from all formats of cricket. The journey has been a long one with highs and lows. The high was representing the India team, playing the World Cup final in 2005 as well as leading the Women in Blue. A string of injuries plagued my career, but I always came back stronger to make it count. Today as I bid adieu to the sport I have always loved, I thank my family, the BCCI, my friends, the teams I represented (Bengal, Railways, Air India, Delhi, Rajasthan and Assam) for believing in my abilities and giving me the opportunity to play for their teams. Like all journeys, mine will end as a cricketer today, but I promise to be associated with the sport and help nurture young talents in the country,” Rumeli wrote.
Rumeli featured in 4 Tests, 78 ODIs and 18 T20Is for India between 2003 and 2018. She scored over 1300 runs in international cricket and picked up 84 wickets. She played a key role in taking India into the 2005 World Cup final in South Africa. The former India captain was dropped from the national team in 2012 after sustaining a shoulder injury for six years. In 2018, she made her comeback in the Tri-Nation Women’s T20I series at home.
“I want to thank my coaches Late Tultul Chatterjee and Late Prodyut Mitra for their contributions in my life,” Rumeli added.