New Delhi: Mithali Raj, the face of Indian women’s cricket retired from all forms of international cricket on Wednesday. She had an illustrious career of 23 years where she scored 10,868 runs across all formats. Mithali retired as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. She has received the Padma Shri, Arjuna Award, and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for her contributions to Indian cricket.
Mithali has led India to the 2005 and 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup finals. In 2022, she also became the only women cricketer and the third one overall to play six World Cups.
Here are some interesting records Mithali holds to her name:
1. Highest runs in women’s ODIs
She has scored 7,805 runs in 232 games averaging 50.68.
2. First Indian to score a 200 in Tests
Mithali Raj scored 214(407) against England in 2002, becoming the first Indian cricketer to score a double century in tests. Also, she became the youngest player to score a double century in tests when she was just 19 years old.
3. Youngest player to score a 100
She scored a century in her debut ODI game against Ireland. She played an innings of 114* when she was just 16 years old.
4. Most consecutive 50s
Mithali scored seven back-to-back fifties to make the record for most consecutive fifties in women’s cricket. She also surpassed Rahul Dravid, who scored five consecutive half-centuries, to become the Indian cricketer with the most consecutive fifties.
5. Most number of matches
She has played the most number of the ODI games in women’s cricket. She has played 232 matches out of which 155 were as the captain of the Indian team. This also makes her the player with the most number of ODI games as a captain. She has had the longest ODI career, playing for 22 years and 274 days.
It has been an inspiring journey, where she batted for 23 years and inspired many girls to pick up cricket. She led India to glory and retired still being on the 7th position in the latest ICC Women’s ODI Rankings.
Shabaash Mithu is the upcoming biopic being made on Mithali Raj’s life. It will feature Taapsee Pannu in the lead role.
