One of the greatest women's cricketers of all-time, Mithali Raj on Wednesday announced her retirement from international cricket, claiming it was the “perfect time” to hang her boots after spending 23 years in the top league. The former captain of the Indian women's team featured in 12 Tests, 232 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 89 T20Is for the country, completing more than 10,000 runs across the three formats.
Your contribution to Indian Cricket has been phenomenal. Congratulations @M_Raj03 on an amazing career. You leave behind a rich legacy.
We wish you all the very best for your second innings 🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/0R66EcM0gT
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 8, 2022
In her 23-year long career, Mithali Raj made and broke numerous records 🔢 💥
A look at some of those 👇https://t.co/x4XXcbMjxf
— ICC (@ICC) June 8, 2022
Mithali Raj informed her supporters about her decision to call it quits through a statement on Twitter.
“I feel now is the perfect time to call curtains on my playing career as the team is in the capable hands of some very talented young players and the future of Indian Cricket is bright,” Mithali Raj wrote on Twitter.
“Each time I stepped on the field, I gave my very best with the intent to help India win. I will always cherish the opportunity given to me to represent the tricolour,” she added. “It was an honour to have led the team for so many years. It definitely shaped me as a person & hopefully helped shape Indian Women's Cricket as well.”
“This journey may have ended but another one beckons as I'd love to stay involved in the game I love and contribute to the growth of Women's Cricket in India and world over,” she concluded.
Thank you for all your love & support over the years!
I look forward to my 2nd innings with your blessing and support. pic.twitter.com/OkPUICcU4u— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) June 8, 2022
Here is how Twitter exploded with reactions to Mithali Raj's shocking retirement.
“One of the cricket's legends calls time on an illustrious international career,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.
“Towards the end of her career, Mithali had been in form longer than some of her teammates had been alive. That's how long she served Indian cricket. Congratulations and thank you Mithali Raj. Good luck for your second innings,” former Indian men's cricket team batter Wasim Jaffer tweeted.
“To play for India is a dream a very few fulfill and to be able represent the nation for 23 years is just amazing. You have been a pillar to Women's Cricket in India and have shaped the lives of many young girls. Many congratulations on a phenomenal career,” India great VVS Laxman posted on the micro-blogging platform.
However, it was actress Taapsee Pannu's post that stood out among the many tributes Mithali Raj received on social media. Pannu is set to star in Mithali's biopic Shabaash Mithu.
“Youngest ODI captain for Indian cricket team. The only Indian cricketer to captain the team in 4 world cups and reach finals twice! Youngest cricketer to score 200 in a test match. Highest scoring Indian cricketer in the debut international match. The only Indian cricketer to score 7 consecutive 50s in ODI. 23 years from hustle to glory,” the caption of Pannu's post on Instagram read.
“Some personalities and their achievements are gender agnostic. You changed the game, now it's our turn to change the perspective! Etched in history our captain forever. On to the next innings of life,” she added.
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Mithali Raj is the holder of several world records in international women's cricket.
She is the only female cricketer to breach the 7,000-run barrier in Women's ODIs and is the lone women's player to hit seven fifties in a row in ODIs to date.
Mithali Raj holds the record for most fifties in Women's ODIs too. She ended her journey in ODIs with 64 half-centuries to her name, well ahead of the 46 made by Charlotte Edwards of England who called time on her international career back in 2016.
Mithali donned the India jersey for the first time in 1999, making her national debut against Ireland in an ODI.
She was also the captain of the Indian women's team for a long period and is the only female player to have captained the national side in more than one ICC ODI World Cup final, accomplishing the feat in 2005 and 2017.
Earlier this year, Mithali Raj captained India in yet another World Cup, this time in New Zealand, but was unable to guide it through to the semi-finals.
Overall, the stylish right-hand batter made 10,868 runs across all formats of the sport and is currently the leading run-scorer among women in international cricket.
While she amassed 2364 runs in 89 T20Is, she could only make 699 runs in 12 Test matches.
It was the ODIs though which were Mithali Raj's forte as he finished her career with 7805 runs – the most in the 50-over format.
Talking about centuries and fifties, Mithali Raj smashed eight tons and a record 85 fifties in her long career which lasted 23 years.
As one Twitter user remarked it is the “end of an era” in Indian women's cricket and there's no denying the fact that her big shoes would be hard to fill.
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