Mithali Raj and her career needs no introduction. Her willow has done most of the talking for many years on the field
In international women’s cricket, she is the foremost run-scorer and the only female cricketer to reach the milestone of 7,000 runs in ODIs. She is the first player to score seven ODIs fifty in a row. Raj retains the record to her name of the most half-centuries as well (58).
Mithali Raj International Career And Records
In June 2018, she became the first player from India to score 2000 runs in T20Is during the 2018 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup and maximized the list by reaching 2000 WT20I runs.
Recently Mithali Raj amassed the record as the leading run-scorer in women’s cricket with 10,337 runs. Mithali Raj, the former Indian captain, in her 22 year long career played 11 Tests for India, scoring 669 runs.
She has also played 207 ODIs for India, earning 7304 runs. Raj subsequently played 89 T20Is, scoring 2364 runs. Overall the legendary Mithali Raj has smashed 7 ODI tons, a maiden double-hundred in test, and a wholesome 58 half-centuries.
Mithali Raj’s Illustrious Cricket Journey
Mithali Raj made her debut in 1999 at Milton Keynes in an One Day International against Ireland where she smashed a debut ton of 114 runs. In the 2001-2002 season, she made her Test debut in Lucknow against South Africa.
Mithali Raj, at 19 years of age, scored 214 in her third test match, breaking Karen Rolton’s previous best of 209* in her 3rd test on 7 August 2002.
Mithali captained Team India for the first time in 2005. Raj is the only player (female) to have represented India as a captain twice in 2005 and 2017, taking part in the ICC ODI World Cup final.
In the 2005 Women’s World Cup, she steered the Indian team to the finals, unfortunately, Australians tusked India easily. Mithali is blessed with the ability to quickly strike, she’s a dangerous cricketer. Raj also rolls her arm over to provide leg-spin bowling contributions to the team at need.
The latter end of her marathon career
In July 2017, she became the first player in history to accomplish 6,000 runs in ODIs. The veteran led the squad for one last time as a captain in the 2017 women’s world cup, losing to England in the finals by nine runs. Mithali Raj was awarded as the Indian player to be included in the ODI team of the year.
Raj withdrew from T20I cricket in September 2019.