Mithali Raj, captain of India women’s ODI and Test teams, announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on Wednesday. In a career spanning 23 years, Mithali boasts of 7 consecutive 50s in ODIs and has led India in 4 World Cups. Best Book for Current Affairs & General Knowledge Preparation
Raj is regarded as one of the top Indian players of the sport. She made her international debut in 1999 and has played prolific cricket across all formats.
In March 2021, she became the first Indian woman cricketer and second internationally to complete 10,000 runs across all formats.
“I feel now is the perfect time to call curtains on my playing career as the team is in capable hands of some very talented young players and the future of Indian Cricket is bright,” Raj said in a statement on Twitter.
The cricketer also mentioned that she looks forward to her “second innings” but did not divulge further details.
Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu will be seen portraying Raj in Shabaash Mithu, a biopic based on the cricketer. The movie is set to be released in July 2022.
Taapsee took to Instagram, where she shared a black and white picture with Raj and wrote: "-Youngest ODI captain for 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 debut international match."
She added, "The only Indian cricketer to score 7 consecutive 50s in ODI. -23 years from hustle to glory. Some personalities and their achievements are gender agnostic. You changed the game, now it's our turn to change the perspective! Etched in history OUR CAPTAIN forever @M_Raj03."
In July 2021, Mithali Raj became the leading run-getter in women's internationals, going past England's Charlotte Edwards (10,273 runs). Edwards and Raj remain the only two women cricketers to have breached the 10k run-mark.
List of Records, Mithali Holds:
At 7805 runs in 232 matches, Raj is the highest run-scorer in women's ODIs.
Raj is one of only two players to have played more than 200 ODIs (the other being longtime teammate Jhulan Goswami). Raj has played the most ODIs – 232.
Raj has 71 fifty-plus scores in ODIs and 17 fifty-plus scores in T20Is. Her combined tally of 88 fifty-plus scores is the most by any player in women's international cricket.
She is the only Indian woman to score a double century in Tests. Her score of 214 (v England in 2002) is the second-highest individual score in women's Tests.
Raj has 89 wins out of 155 as captain – the most by any player in women's ODIs. Her 155 matches as captain is also the highest in women's ODIs.
Raj has led India to four consecutive Asia Cup titles – 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008, when they beat Sri Lanka in the finals each time, and in 2012, when they defeated Pakistan.
Raj made history in 2014 when she led India to their first Test series victory against England in England.
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