Sabbhineni Meghana, Commonwealth Games silver medallist, retires from all formats of cricket
India batter Sabbhineni Meghana announced on October 23, 2026, in a social media post that she is retiring from all formats of cricket, ending a career that included representing India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games where the team won a silver medal. The 30-year-old said she was grateful to her family, coaches, teammates, support staff and fans for their support throughout her career.
A right-handed batter from Andhra Pradesh, Meghana made her T20I debut against the West Indies in November 2016 and her ODI debut against New Zealand in February 2022. She finished her international career having played three ODIs and 17 T20Is, scoring 114 and 258 runs respectively. In domestic cricket she was the leading run-scorer in the 2021-22 Women's Senior One Day Trophy with 388 runs, which included a century and two half-centuries.
Meghana featured in the Women's Premier League, representing Gujarat Giants in the inaugural 2023 season before moving to 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. Women's cricket featured at the 2022 Commonwealth Games for the first time, and Meghana was part of the India side that reached the final in Birmingham.
In her retirement post, Meghana reflected on her first moments in the game and the experience of wearing the national jersey, writing: “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.” She added: “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 paid particular tribute to her family, writing: “To my family, who stood by me through every peak and valley, thank you for your endless sacrifices.” Meghana also set out her intention to remain involved in the sport, saying: “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 shared the announcement on her account @meghanasabbineni22 and closed her message with a final dedication: “Thank you, Cricket. You will forever be my heart, my passion, and my lifelong purpose.”
Her retirement ends a playing career that combined international appearances, a domestic one-day scoring lead in 2021-22 and participation in the WPL; she has stated she will continue to contribute to cricket off the field, including mentoring the next generation.
