Meg Lanning's illustrious career.

Captaincy came early in Meg Lanning’s career. In 2014, she was just 21 when entrusted with leading Australia to cricket domination. Responsibilities were placed on her young shoulders as a budding batter making waves in the women’s game. Upon announcing her international retirement at the age of 31, Lanning expressed a sense of relief, a decision that had been on her mind for about 18 months, during which she took breaks from international cricket.

She guided Australia to one ODI World Cup and four T20 World Cup titles, a feat unmatched by any other captain, male or female. She secured a total of seven World Cups and added a CWG gold to her accomplishments last year. Beyond her captaincy, Lanning was a remarkable batter. She debuted with a century in her second ODI at 18, an Australian record, and concluded her career with 17 international centuries, the highest among women. Her conversion rate in ODIs is impressive, ending with 15 centuries and 21 fifties.

Indian cricket legend Jhulan Goswami praised Lanning, stating, “She is one of the finest batters I have played against. You can see from her body language. She is very competitive, passionate, and always had a never-give-up attitude.” Lisa Sthalekar, former Australian cricketer, noted Lanning’s exceptional skills and maturity from a young age, describing her as a “special talent.”

Meg Lanning’s retirement marks the conclusion of an illustrious career, leaving a lasting impact on the international cricket scene. Although Lanning steps away from international cricket, she is expected to remain active in domestic and T20 leagues, having been retained by Delhi Capitals in WPL.

_{Repurposed article originally published in the Indian Express.}