When it comes to the evolution of women’s cricket, one name stands head and shoulders above the rest: Mithali Raj. With her elegance at the crease and unyielding determination as a leader, she didn’t just elevate Indian cricket; she reshaped the global narrative surrounding women’s sports. As records shattered and milestones were achieved, countless young girls were inspired to dream bigger because Mithali proved that they could truly make it.
In Mithali’s own words, there was a critical juncture when her career hung in the balance. During the 2009 World Cup in Australia, she shared, “I remember the 2009 World Cup in Australia. It was the first time that a few matches were televised on a reputed sports channel, and the first time my father saw me play on television.”
This moment held profound significance, not just for her but for her family. At last, her father could witness her talent on a platform that truly mattered. It was a moment she hadn’t anticipated would feel so weighty.
Yet behind that calm demeanor, Raj was grappling with daunting challenges. Chronic injuries and a lack of recognition for women’s cricket had left her exhausted and disheartened. She admitted, “And you know, it’s something I would like to share is that I was planning to quit post that World Cup because there was not much in women’s cricket and I was sort of struggling with an injury since 2005.”
It’s almost surreal to think that the woman who would later redefine Indian cricket was on the cusp of walking away from it all.
But then something changed. As she absorbed the growing enthusiasm around women’s cricket, she realized her story was not meant to conclude just yet. Reflecting on her father’s joy, she realized the impact of her performance: “And you know, I thought like after the World Cup, you know, say goodbye to the sport, but then I’ve seen how it impacted my family, my father enjoyed watching me play.”
Her father’s newfound pride symbolized the respect that women’s cricket was slowly beginning to earn. Mithali noticed a burgeoning movement, a dedicated fanbase emerging, people rallying behind women cricketers as they would for their male counterparts.
She explained, “A lot of people were interested in the team and players and were actually watching women’s cricket. We had a few small followers on their own watching women’s cricket, so I thought, ‘let me extend a couple of more years’.”
Those “couple of more years” blossomed into an illustrious two-decade career that forever altered the landscape of Indian cricket.
In 2005, Mithali became India’s permanent captain, leading her team to their first World Cup final that same year in South Africa — A bittersweet match that ended in defeat against Australia. Fast forward twelve years, and she found herself at the helm again, steering India to the 2017 World Cup final at Lord’s, where they narrowly lost to England by just nine runs. By January 2022, she had etched her name into history, becoming the captain for her record sixth World Cup appearance—the most by any cricketer, male or female.
The 2017 World Cup is memorable not just for Mithali’s remarkable 109 against New Zealand or Smriti Mandhana’s fluent 90, but also for Harmanpreet Kaur’s explosive 171* in the semifinal. Despite falling short in the final match, the team returned home to a hero’s welcome, marking a pivotal moment where women’s cricket finally received the attention it rightfully deserved.
On June 8th, Mithali announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket. This marked not just the end of an era, but also underscored her lasting legacy. She led women’s cricket from the shadows to the spotlight, from playing in half-filled stadiums to electrifying crowds, transforming a sport that was once barely acknowledged into something celebrated and cherished.
Mithali Raj’s career boasts astonishing numbers—she is the only female cricketer to surpass the 7,000-run mark in Women’s One Day Internationals. With 7 centuries and an eye-popping 64 half-centuries in 232 ODIs, she amassed 7,805 runs; no other female player comes close. However, these figures just scratch the surface of her profound impact.
Image Source: Mithali Raj @ Instagram
