At the glittering Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Naman Awards 2026 ceremony on March 15 in New Delhi, 43-year-old former Indian skipper Mithali Raj received the prestigious BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women, the highest honour bestowed by the BCCI on former players for their supreme contributions to the sport. This emotional milestone celebrated a career that not only shattered records but also elevated women’s cricket in India from a niche pursuit to a national obsession.
Mithali Raj’s journey began humbly with her ODI debut on June 26, 1999, against Ireland at Milton Keynes, igniting a two-decade odyssey that redefined excellence. As captain, she steered India to the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup finals in 2005 and 2017, finishing as runners-up both times, falling short by 98 runs to Australia in 2005 and by 9 runs to England in 2017.
Her ODI ledger is unmatched: 7,805 runs at 50.68 across 211 innings in 232 matches, including 64 half-centuries and 7 centuries. She holds the record for the longest women’s ODIs career (22 years and 274 days) and for the most consecutive half-centuries (7 innings, from February 7 to June 24, 2017). Besides her exploits with the bat, she also picked up 8 wickets at an average of 11.37 and an economy rate of 3.19 in 10 innings, with her part-time leg spin.
Her prowess extended seamlessly across formats. In T20Is, she made her debut on August 5, 2006, against England at Derby, and amassed 2,364 runs at 37.52 in 84 innings across 89 matches, including 17 half-centuries. In Tests, starting January 14, 2002, against England at Lucknow, she scored 699 runs at 43.68 in 19 innings across 12 matches, boasting 4 half-centuries and a majestic double-century against England at Taunton in August 2002. Retiring internationally on June 8, 2022, Mithali’s grand total of 10,868 runs crowned her the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket, a record that endures.
Beyond the boundary, Mithali’s influence has been transformative. She played a pivotal role in raising the profile of women’s cricket in India, paving the way for packed stadiums and prime-time broadcasts. Post-retirement, she mentored Gujarat Giants in the inaugural seasons of the Women’s Premier League (2023 and 2024), stepping away before the 2025 edition, and has excelled in the commentary box for Star Sports, with her sharp insights captivating fans.
This award isn’t just for Mithali Raj; it’s a tribute to the persistence, poise, and pioneering spirit of generations of Indian women cricketers before her. As women’s cricket surges forward, the “Queen of Indian Cricket” remains its eternal benchmark.
Loves all things female cricket