Mithali Raj is an inspiration to many, says PM Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Mithali Raj on Sunday and conveyed his best wishes to the legendary former Indian captain who announced her retirement earlier this month.
- In Sunday’s episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi described Mithali Raj as “one of the most talented cricketers in India”
- Since making her debut on June 26, 1999, against Ireland, Mithali represented the country in 12 Tests, 232 ODIs and 89 T20Is
- In 333 international matches, the 39-year-old aggregated 10,868 runs across three formats
Having made her debut at the age of 16, Mithali ended an illustrious 23-year career, finishing as the most capped player, the highest run scorer and the most successful female captain.
On Sunday’s episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi described Mithali as “one of the most talented cricketers in India”.
“Her retirement from cricket has emotionally touched many sports lovers. Mithali has not only been an extraordinary player, she has also been an inspiration to many players. I wish Mithali all the best for her future,”
said PM Narendra Modi.
Mithali Raj Career
Mithali retired as the leading run-scorer in the women’s ODIs. She represented India in 232 matches, scoring 7805 runs at an average of 50.68. In Tests, Mithali smashed 699 runs in 12 matches with a brilliant average of 43.68. She also scored 2,364 runs in 89 T20Is.
Mithali, who made her debut in 2002, is regarded as the greatest Indian women’s batter. She captained the side to two 50-over World Cups.
At 16, Raj scored an unbeaten 114 on her ODI debut and soon established herself as a vital clog in India’s batting order. In October 2019, Raj, at 36, became the first woman to complete two decades in ODI cricket.
Mithali Raj is currently at the seventh position in the latest ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings, released on Tuesday. (ANI)
