Mithali Raj ended an illustrious career that spanned two decades and established her as one of the game’s all-time greats. Mithali Raj, an Indian cricketer, announced her retirement from all forms of the game today, in an unexpected move.
She made her debut in 1999 and was the captain of the Indian Women’s Team. She announced the news on her Twitter account. However, no trip to the shrine of women’s cricket that Mithali Raj is would be complete without seeing some simply enviable records.
Let’s take a look at five of her greatest achievements through the course of her illustrious career.
Most runs in international cricket (women):
- Mithali Raj finishes her career with 10,868 runs, the most by any player in women’s international cricket.
- Former England captain Charlotte Edwards held the previous record of 10,273.
- Mithali broke during India’s three-match ODI series in July 2021.
- Mithali and Edwards are the only two female international cricketers to have scored over 10,000 runs.
Highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs:
- Mithali Raj has scored 7805 runs in ODIs for India.
- It is the most common format she has used.
- It puts her well ahead of the other players on the list of all-time ODI run scorers.
- With 5992 runs, Edwards is second.
- Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies is the highest run-scorer among active cricketers, with 5298 runs.
India’s highest run scorer in women’s T20Is:
- Mithali Raj retires as India’s highest run-scorer in the game’s shortest format.
- She has 2364 runs while Harmanpreet has 2319.
Most ODI matches as captain:
- Mithali Raj led India to 155 One-Day International victories.
- It is the most by any female cricketer in the game’s history.
- Edwards comes in second, having captained England in 117 matches.
- Belinda Clark of Australia is third with 101 matches.
Youngest player to score a double century in Tests:
- Mithali Raj scored her first double-century in red-ball cricket when she was 19 years old.
- She is the women’s cricket’s youngest double centurion.
- She scored 214 off 407 balls against England in Taunton, helping India earn a draw.
Some more achievements:
- Youngest ODI captain for the Indian cricket team.
- The only Indian cricketer to captain the team in 4 world cups and reach finals twice!
- Youngest cricketer to score 200 in a test match
- Highest scoring Indian cricketer in the debut international match
- The only Indian cricketer to score 7 consecutive 50s in ODI
- 23 years from hustle to glory.
Let’s get to know about Mitali’s early struggle.
Mithali Raj has witnessed it all. The days when women’s cricket was tolerated with little or no humour to the present. When the Women’s Indian Premier League is on the verge of becoming a reality.
Mithali has witnessed all of the lows and highs. She has made some of today’s female celebrities household names.
The journey was long and difficult. The success of Indian women’s cricket and one of its most senior doyens are almost synonymous.
Mithali Raj has seen it all, from the anonymity of just being a player to captaining India and experiencing unprecedented success.
Some more about her cricketing career:
On Wednesday, she announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket. Mithali Raj ended a career that many cricketers would like to emulate few will be able to do so.
Beginning in 1999 in India colours, the batter has witnessed everything that has happened to India. A testament to her mental and physical fitness. Mithali was able to hold her own against younger.
Mithali Raj, the star Indian batter, announced her retirement from all forms of cricket on Twitter on Wednesday. She expressed gratitude to her friends, family, and fans for their unwavering support throughout her career. Mithali led the Indian team to victory in the recent Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Her career muscled its way through the mighty challenges thrown by:
- Lucy Pearson
- Clare Connor
- Marizanne Kapp
- Nida Dar
- Katherine Brunt
- Shabnim Ismail
Even as the competition increased, with new players such as
- Smriti Mandhana
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Jemima Rodrigues
Mithali Raj still was right up there, finishing with averages:
- 43.68 in Test
- 50.68 in ODI
- 37.52 in T20I
Not everything was a bouquet. The women’s team, finalists in the ODI World Cup in 2017, fell from grace when they were eliminated from the group stage in the 2022 edition.
3rd cricketer ever to appear at 6 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups:
Mithali Raj became the first woman, and only the third cricketer in history, to play in all six ICC Women’s World Cups. She equalled Australian legend Belinda Clark’s record by captaining India in her fourth ICC Women’s World Cup.
