Mithali Raj – The Face Of Indian Women Cricket

Referred as the greatest female cricketer ever, Mithali Raj is a former Indian cricketer who was also the ODI captain of the Indian women’s national cricket team. She holds the position of highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket and is a right-handed upper Middle-order batter. She also plays the position of right-arm leg break bowler occasionally.

Mithali Dorai Raj has many national and international records under her name, including the record of only female to surpass the mark of 7,000 run mark in Women’s One Day International match. While talking about her achievements, her record of scoring the most half-centuries in WODI’s is one of the most impressive ones. She was also the first player to score seven consecutives 50s in ODIs. During the Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup which were held in 2018, she became the first player from India (either male or female) to hold the record of scoring 2000 runs in T20s. During the same Asian Cup, she became the first woman cricketer to reach 2000 runs score in WT20.

She became the captain of the side in 2005. Mithali Raj is the only female player who has captained Indian team more than once at ICC ODI World Cup final, I.e in 2005 and 2017. She was the first woman to play in 200 ODI matches, and she completed this record on 1 February 2019, while playing a match against New Zealand Women. In the same year, she became the first woman to complete 20 years in international cricket. She also announced her retirement from T20Is to concentrate more on ODI cricket in 2019.

Apart from the records that she has broken in the field, she is also the recipient of many national and international awards for her contribution to the sport. She is the proud recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2003, the Padma Shri in 2015 and Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna in 2021. She has also received the Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the world in 2017.

Raj announces retirement after 23-long-year of career

Mithali Raj, who is known to have popularized the female version of cricket announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on Wednesday. She holds a significant role in making the female cricket gain great heights by herself contributing 23-long-years to the sport.

She was featured in 89 T20 internationals even though she got to play only 12 tests in her long, amazing career. The 39-year-old player managed to score a double hundred during these matches and gained the position of the only woman from India to do so in longer format.

“Each time I stepped on the field, I gave my very best with the intent to help India win. I will always cherish the opportunity given to me to represent the tricolour,” the former player wrote in her statement.

“I feel now is the perfect time to call curtains on my playing career as the team is in the capable hands of some very talented young players and the future of Indian Cricket is bright

“It was an honour to have led the team for so many years. It definitely shaped me as a person & hopefully helped shape Indian Women’s Cricket as well.”

Embarking on a new journey that waits for her, Raj showed interest in being involved in the game even in the future.