India batter Sabbhineni Meghana has announced her retirement from all formats of cricket, bringing the curtain down on her career that included representing the country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where India won the silver medal in women's cricket.

The 30-year-old announced her decision in a social media post, reflecting on her journey and expressing gratitude to her family, coaches, teammates, support staff and fans who supported her throughout her career.

“Stepping onto the field for the very first time with a bat in hand to wear a jersey on world stage has been nothing short of a dream come true,” Meghana wrote.

“As I announce my retirement from all formats of cricket as a player, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. The field has been my second home, teaching me resilience, humility, and giving me memories and friendships that I will carry for a lifetime,” she added.

Meghana also made it clear that retirement would not mean a complete separation from the sport, expressing her intention to contribute to cricket beyond her playing days.

FROM ANDHRA TO INDIA

A right-handed batter from Andhra Pradesh, Meghana made her T20I debut against the West Indies in November 2016. She made her ODI debut against New Zealand in February 2022 and went on to represent India in three ODIs and 17 T20Is, scoring 114 and 258 runs, respectively.

One of the significant milestones of her career came at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Women's cricket featured at the Games for the first time, and India reached the final before losing to Australia to secure the silver medal.

Meghana also made her mark in domestic cricket. She emerged as the leading run-scorer in the 2021-22 Women's Senior One Day Trophy, scoring 388 runs, including a century and two half-centuries, performances that strengthened her case for a place in the national side.

WPL TRIUMPH WITH RCB

Meghana featured in the Women's Premier League, representing Gujarat Giants in the inaugural season in 2023 before joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024.

She was part of the RCB squad that won its maiden WPL title in 2024, defeating Delhi Capitals in the final. The triumph added another notable team achievement to her career.

In her retirement message, Meghana thanked her family for their sacrifices and acknowledged the role played by her coaches, teammates and support staff.

“To my family, who stood by me through every peak and valley, thank you for your endless sacrifices,” she wrote.

“While my playing days come to an end, my bond with cricket will never break. I will always stay deeply connected to the game and intend to dedicate my life to giving back to the sport, mentoring the next generation, and serving the game that gave me everything.”

Meghana signed off with a heartfelt tribute to the sport, writing: “Thank you, Cricket. You will forever be my heart, my passion, and my lifelong purpose.”

- Ends