Former Indian skipper, Mithali Raj announced her retirement in June mid this year and in her first cricketing assignment post-retirement, she is all set to make her debut as a commentator on the 30th of October, 2022 during Pakistan’s crucial clash against the Netherlands in the ongoing Super 12 games in the ICC T20 World Cup spectacle.
Star Sports put out a Tweet that read, “We have a superstar addition to our panel for the #INDvSA clash. Welcome @M_Raj03!,” to announce Mithali Raj’s debut behind the mic. Quoting the Tweet, Mithali Raj responded, “Can’t wait to get into the commentary box🎙️ tomorrow for the #INDvSA game. Excited! Let’s do this! 😀.”
The ones following Mithali Raj’s pressers and post-match interviews from over the years know the detailed insights she will bring forward and fans for the very same tactically smart Mithali Raj to make her commentary debut are very excited to hear her pre and post-game analysis apart from the on-air commentary.
Mithali Raj made her debut with the commentary today #CricketTwitter 📸@ReemaMalhotra8 #T20worldcup22 #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/UO3Utnqxd3
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 30, 2022
The 39-year-old is set to join the broadcasting team of Star Sports Hindi, English & Telugu for the second match of the day between the Netherlands and Pakistan. She will also be present behind the mic for the big game between South Africa and India that’ll be later in the day.
Mithali Raj has scored 699 runs in 19 Test innings averaging 43.68 and has the highest score of 214 in the format. In 211 ODI innings, Mithali has got to 7805 runs at an average of 50.68 and has got the highest score of 125* and in the shortest, T20I format she’s got to 2364 runs in 84 innings at an average of 37.52 with the highest score of 97*.
Mithali Raj finished as the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s One-Day Internationals (ODI), with 7,805 runs at an average of 50.68. She in the format, on debut, scored 114 not out against Ireland in 1999 as a 16-year-old. Mithali retired from the shortest format in 2019 as the third-highest run-scorer in the women’s Twenty20 Internationals (T20I).
Mithali Raj took over the captaincy in 2005 and is the only India captain, male or female, to have led the side in two World Cup finals. During her conversation in the ICC podcast, ‘100% cricket’, Mithali Raj indicated her return to the game with a bat in hand. Quoting Raj, “I’m keeping that option open. I’ve not yet decided. There are a few more months to go before the Women’s IPL happens. It would be lovely to be part of the first edition of the Women’s IPL.”
Off-field, Mithali Raj post announcing her retirement from all forms of international cricket in June first got busy with the launch and promotions of her movie ‘ShabaashMithu’ that hit the big screens a few months back.
Then, political bells made loud noises as pictures of her meeting with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) President JP Nadda in Hyderabad made rounds, but not a lot followed and maybe in the near future, her second innings remain with the game, but as a commentator.