Meg Lanning who was the captain of the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League, has spoken openly about the mental and physical health challenges that led to her shock retirement from international cricket at the young age of 31.

Meg Lanning, a legend of the game with a trophy cabinet boasting five ICC Women’s T20 World Cup titles and two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophies, six of them as captain, revealed on the Australian podcast “Howie Games” the struggles she faced throughout her career.

Meg Lanning detailed her battle with an “unhealthy obsession” with exercise, leading to significant weight loss and neglecting proper nutrition.

“I was overdoing exercise and not eating enough,” Lanning confessed. “I got down to an unhealthy weight and was in denial about it all.”

Meg Lanning explained how this behaviour became a “new normal” for her. “I became a different person, difficult to be around. This ultimately led to me not being in a good space mentally or physically to continue playing international cricket.”

While Lanning doesn’t believe she had a formally diagnosed eating disorder, she did acknowledge the need for professional help. She spoke about the importance of open communication and seeking support from medical professionals and loved ones.

“I felt out of control,” Lanning said. “Talking to people and letting them know what I was going through helped tremendously.