India’s left-arm spinner Gouher Sultana has announced her retirement from all forms of the game. The 37-year-old represented India in 50 ODIs and 37 T20Is after making her debut in 2008, and last played for the national team in April 2014.
Sultana returned to the spotlight a decade later when she featured in the 2024 and 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) seasons for UP Warriorz.
“To have represented India at the highest level – in World Cups, tours and battles that tested both skill and spirit – has been the greatest honour of my life,” Sultana wrote in her retirement post on Instagram. “Every wicket taken, every dive in the field, every huddle with my teammates has shaped the cricketer and the person I am today.”
Sultana finished her ODI career with 66 wickets at an impressive average of 19.39, the third-best among Indian bowlers with at least 50 wickets in the format. She played in two ODI World Cups, in 2009 and 2013, taking 12 wickets in 11 matches. She also featured in three T20 World Cups between 2009 and 2014, claiming seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.81.
In the WPL, Sultana played two matches for UP Warriorz in 2024, bowling five overs without a wicket. In the 2025 season, she featured in two games and bowled just one over.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo before her WPL comeback, Sultana reflected on her journey: “There were times when I thought of quitting – seasons I didn’t do well, my mental health was affected. But then even when I was about to give up, I was like, ‘No, this shouldn’t be the end. I want to end it the way I want it.’ It was not to prove anything to anybody, but I enjoyed playing and I still enjoy playing.”
Sultana, who is also a BCCI Level 2 certified coach, leaves behind a legacy as one of India’s finest left-arm spinners.