Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj is a former Indian international cricketer and one of the most accomplished batters in women’s cricket.

Mithali Raj is a former Indian international cricketer and one of the most accomplished batters in women’s cricket. She played for India from 1999 to 2022, captained the national team, and set major batting and captaincy records, including becoming the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket.

Early life

Mithali Raj was born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, on 3 December 1982. She grew up in Secunderabad, where she began playing cricket at a young age.

International career

Raj made her debut for India in 1999 and went on to represent the country in Tests, One Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals over a 23-year career. She became one of the most decorated players in women’s cricket, scoring 10,868 runs in women’s international cricket, the most by any woman at the time of her retirement.

Captaincy and records

Raj’s leadership included guiding India to two Women’s Cricket World Cup finals, the first Indian captain to achieve that feat. She set records for runs, matches, and career longevity in women’s international cricket, including becoming the leading run-scorer in women’s internationals in July 2021. She is the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs and the only Indian woman to score a Test double century.

Retirement and legacy

Raj announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket on 8 June 2022. Her career is widely credited with raising the profile of women’s cricket in India and inspiring future players.