Mithali Raj is one of the most iconic and revered cricketers to have ever represented India. With an illustrious career spanning over two decades, she captained the national team for 18 years, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. With a record 10,868 runs across the three formats, she is the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket having numerous records to her name.
Her impressive record list includes being the only female cricketer to surpass 7,000 runs in Women’s One Day Internationals and the first to score seven consecutive fifties in ODIs. As India’s captain from 2005, she led the team to two ICC ODI World Cup finals in 2005 and 2017. Raj also became the first Indian woman to score 2,000 runs in T20Is and the first to reach 200 ODIs.
Her awards cabinet is all glittery, decorated with several prestigious honors, including the Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World, Arjuna Award, Padma Shri and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Adding to her impressive collection is the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to her at the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year ceremony in Delhi.
In an interview after receiving the prestigious award, Mithali Raj shared her journey into cricket, beginning with her childhood. She recalled how she was inspired by watching boys play with bats but faced resistance from her father, who believed cricket was not for girls, as he saw no other girls playing the sport.
“I’d only see the boys with a bat in their hand running around and playing, so I told my father I also want to give it a try, but he said that was not for girls, because do you see any girl here?” she said.
However, her brother’s coach noticed her dedication, as she would show up every morning at 6 AM to practice. He encouraged her father to invest in her potential, seeing promise in her abilities.
Mithali Raj also spoke about the struggles of early female cricketers, who played for the love of the game despite financial hardships, societal barriers, and a lack of support. Their passion for representing India kept them going.
Winning the Lifetime Achievement Award is not only a recognition of Mithali’s incredible achievements but also a symbol of her hard-fought battle to make it big in a sport once dominated by men. Her success is truly an honor for the nation.
(Quotes sourced from BBC)
Loves all things female cricket