Purnima Rau


Purnima Rau is an Indian former cricketer and current cricket coach. She played as an all-rounder, batting right-handed and bowling right-arm off break. She appeared in five Test matches and 33 One Day Internationals for India between 1993 and 2000. She played domestic cricket for Andhra [women's cricket team|Andhra], Railways and Air India.

Playing career

Rau made her international debut for India against West Indies in an ODI at Nottingham on 20 July 1993. Her Test debut came against New Zealand at Nelson on 7 February 1995. Rau was described as one of the first Indian women cricketers to attempt to take advantage of the field restrictions in place during the first 15 overs of a limited overs game.
She captained India in 3 Test matches and 8 ODI matches, all in 1995.
In 1996 skipper Rau helped the touring Andhra Pradesh women's cricket team register a 114-run victory over Samudra Ladies CC. She captained Air India in the 1999/00 season.

Coaching career

Rau was head coach of India between 2014 and 2017. Currently, she is a coach associated with development of youth and women's cricketers in Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad].