Mithali Raj – Story of Hard Work & Success

Mithali Raj – Talented Powerhouse of Indian Women Cricket

Mithali Raj is India’s most remarkable female batswoman. She has reached many milestones in her two-decade-old international career. She is a right-handed opening batswoman and right-arm leg-break bowler. Mithali is the highest run-scorer in women’s International Cricket and is the only female cricketer to surpass the 7,000-run mark in Women’s One-Day International matches.

In July 2021, in the 3rd Women’s One Day International match playing against England, Mithali Raj became the leading run-scorer in Women’s International Cricket. She went past Charlotte Edwards’ previous record of 10,273 runs.

Initial Years

Born Mithali Dorai Raj on December 3, 1982, she attended Keyes High School for Girls in Secunderabad and Kasturba Junior College to pursue further studies. During her school days, she started training for cricket. Mithali was chosen for the Indian Team at the age of seventeen. It didn’t take her long to prove her caliber and acumen.

She demonstrated her resilience and emerged as one of the most talented and promising batswomen when she scored 214 runs against the England Team in the final test in Taunton. This was just the beginning of the story of a cricketer like Mithali Raj, and her unwavering determination has inspired many. Her commendable performances earned her the tag “Lady Sachin,”

The Saga of Success

It takes hard work and effort to rise to fame and success. Raj made her way to the One Day International and Test Cricket for India’s Women’s Cricket Team. Because of the immense talent pool, she was also speculated to have been part of the 1997 Women’s Cricket World Cup at the tender age of 14, but she didn’t make it to the final cut.

Nevertheless, Mithali Raj made her One Day International debut in 1999, two years after she didn’t make it to the final list. The most impressive and memorable thing about her debut was that she scored 114 unbeaten runs. Soon followed the test debut in 2001-2002 against South Africa. Since then, there has been no looking back.

On August 17, Mithali Raj broke the world record for scoring the highest run in the women’s test in the same season. With her 214 runs against England, she broke Karen Rolton’s record of scoring the world’s highest test score—209-. Two years later, Pakistan’s Kiran Baluch broke her record, scoring 242 against the West Indies in March 2004.

The year 2005: Game Changer

The 2005 Women’s World Cup was a highly anticipated contest as it was making a return after five long years. Having witnessed the first encounter being called off because of heavy rains, the Indian Women’s Cricket Team went on to win the next three matches. Though the Indian Team lost to New Zealand, they achieved second place in the eight-team table. New Zealand, the familiar foes, was waiting in the semi-finals. The Women In Blue required a solid start in the first innings, having asked to bat first. The time was in favor, and Mithali Raj rose to success.

What are the essential qualities of a promising athlete? The ability to perform in a not-so-encouraging atmosphere Raj did that in a very composed way, winning the hearts of millions of her fans. The Team was decimated to 127-4; however, Raj scored an unbeaten 91, helping the country reach a defendable total of 204. Then they bowled out the Kiwis for 164 runs only to win by 40.

Moments that Made Mithali Famous

The following year, in August, India won their maiden test series over England under the leadership of Mithali Raj. Indian Women’s Cricket Team won the 2006 Asia Cup. India repeated this achievement the second time in twelve months – without dropping out even a single game. In May 2008, she led India to the fourth consecutive Asia Cup title. Also, she crossed the 3000-run landmark during this time, a feat that made the nation proud.

Raj lost the captaincy after a poor show in England when India did not even win a match. However, the 2012 England Tour helped her earn the captaincy back. Consistently, she went on to score high runs. In February 2017, Raj became the second player to surpass the 5,500 scores in WODIs. In July 2017, she became the first women batswoman to cross the 6,000 runs mark in the limited-overs format.

2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup

The 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup was crucial for Mithali Raj and Team India. Unlike in the past, the Indian Cricket Team now had a slew of highly skilled and talented cricketers to take care of the series. India won the first four matches in the group stage. In the last group, Raj scored 109 runs, helping India achieve a total of 265/7 and helping the Team beat the Black Caps for 79 runs to enter the World Cup semi-finals with a 187 run-win, the most significant victory in the World Cup.

Controversies

Mithali Raj was involved in a controversy with the cricket management because of her attitude towards the game during the ICC Women’s World T20 2018. Despite being the senior-most player, the administration criticized her for putting minimum input in team meetings. Mithali was blamed for her inability to understand and adapt to the team plan. Her relationship with the T20 cricket captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, is also strained.

Awards and Honors

• Arjuna Award in 2003
• Padam Shri 2015
• Wisden Indian Cricket OF The Year 2015
• Youth Sports Icon Excellence Award at Radiance Wellness Conclave, Chennai, 2017
• Vogue Sportsperson of the Year at Vogue’s 10th Anniversary in 2017
• Listed on BBC 100 Women List in 2017
• Khel Ratna Award in 2021

Personal Life

Mithali Raj is single and lives in Hyderabad, Telangana, with her family. In 2017, Viacom 18 obtained the necessary rights to make the biopic of her life with Taapsee Pannu playing her role in “Shabbash Mithu.” The movie was released on July 15, 2022, but it was a financial disaster, earning only Rs 2.88 crore from a budget of 30.0 crores.

On June 8, 2022, Mithali Raj announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket.

Mithali Raj After Retirement

Even after retiring from all formats of international cricket, Mithali Raj’s legacy continues to inspire the next generation of cricketers, ensuring that her impact on the sport remains significant. Mithali Raj is one of India’s famous and celebrated women cricketers, and even after her retirement, she continues to make significant contributions to the sport.

Recently, after two seasons as a mentor of Gujarat Giants in the WPL (Women’s Premier League), she stepped down and took a consultancy role with the Andhra Cricket Association. In her new role, she focuses on developing young talent to strengthen the state’s cricketing infrastructure. Mithali, through her mentorship and consultancy, has been actively supporting India’s next generation of women cricketers and remains an inspiring figure in Indian women’s cricket.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What inspired Mithali Raj to pursue cricket?

Mithali Raj was introduced to cricket at a young age by her father, Dorai Raj, an Air Force officer. She initially trained as a classical dancer but shifted to cricket after displaying exceptional talent. Her discipline and dedication helped her rise through the ranks, eventually making her one of the most remarkable women cricketers in the world.

What are Mithali Raj’s significant achievements in cricket?

Mithali Raj has numerous records to her name, including being the highest run-scorer in women’s ODI cricket, the first Indian woman to score 7,000 ODI runs, and the only female cricketer to captain India in two ODI World Cup finals (2005, 2017). She also led India to multiple victories, leaving an enduring legacy.

How did Mithali Raj overcome challenges in her career?

In her early days, Mithali faced societal pressure, gender biases, and a lack of facilities for women’s cricket. However, she remained focused on her game through hard work and perseverance. Her leadership, consistency, and dedication helped change perceptions about women’s cricket in India.

When did Mithali Raj retire from international cricket?

Mithali Raj announced her retirement from international cricket on June 8, 2022, after serving Indian cricket for over two decades. She retired as the leading run-scorer in women’s ODIs, leaving a remarkable legacy.

What is Mithali Raj doing after retirement?

After retirement, Mithali has remained actively involved in cricket. She served as a mentor for Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and later took on a consultancy role with the Andhra Cricket Association. She also promotes women’s cricket and inspires young players nationwide.