Mithali Raj announces retirement from all forms of cricket in a statement to the media on Wednesday, she said that she was ending her journey as a cricketer this time. That is why Harmanpreet Kaur is taking charge as the captain of the ODI team this time.
Total score of Mithali
Despite retiring, she still wants to be associated with cricket. As a result, speculation has started, is she taking responsibility for bringing up Indian women cricketers? For India, Mithali has played 232 ODIs, 12 Tests and 89 T20 matches. She last played for India in this year’s 50-over World Cup against South Africa. Mithali also scored a half century in the last match. The team could not win though. However, she has scored 7805 runs in ODIs. Century number 7. Average 50.68. She has scored 699 runs in Tests. She has scored 2364 runs in T20 cricket. She has 10868 runs in three formats in women’s international cricket. Which is still the highest.
She started her international cricket journey at the age of 16. She was unbeaten on 114 in her debut match against Ireland on 26 June 1999. She retires from cricket at the age of 39.
“As a young girl, I dreamed of wearing an Indian team jersey. I witnessed many ups and downs. But the last twenty-three years of my life have been the happiest,” Mithali wrote in the media. “Every journey comes to an end. That’s how my cricketing career ended today. I am announcing my retirement from all forms of cricket.” She added.
Without stopping here, she wrote, “I never forgot to give my best on the field. I am grateful for the dream I have been able to fulfil in the Indian team jersey. I think this is the right time to retire. Many talented young women have come to the Indian team. They have learned to take charge of the team. I think the future of the Indian women’s cricket team is really bright.”
The Indian team didn’t win the trophy in the world cup although she made the team reach the final. Mithali writes, “I have had the opportunity to lead the country for so long. Which helped me become a matured human being. Hopefully, Indian women’s cricket has also benefited.”
Mithali then said that she wanted to stay involved in the game even if she gave up cricket. “Even though my journey as a cricketer is over, I want to be associated with this game for the rest of my life. I still dream of the rise of Indian women’s cricket. But this is where my journey as a player ends.” Following the announcement of Mithali’s retirement, Harmanpreet Kaur has been named as the new captain of the ODI team.
Other great achievements of the former Captain include most runs in girls ODI cricket, that is 7805. In her 26 years of cricket, she played the most number of matches in ODI cricket for girls, 232.