Mithali Raj

About

Mithali Raj is widely regarded as one of the greatest female cricketers of all time and the former captain of the Indian women's national cricket team. Born on December 3, 1982, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, she grew up in Hyderabad, where she pursued cricket alongside classical Bharatanatyam dance. Known for her superb batting technique and calm composure under pressure, Mithali made her One Day International debut in 1999 against Ireland, scoring an unbeaten 114 runs. She went on to hold the record for the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket and remains the only female cricketer to surpass the 7,000-run milestone in ODIs. Mithali captained India to the finals of two ICC Women's Cricket World Cups, in 2005 and 2017, becoming a central figure in popularizing women's cricket in India. Her international career spanned an incredible 23 years, during which she set numerous records, including scoring seven consecutive half-centuries in ODIs. She officially retired from all formats of international cricket in June 2022. Following her retirement, she stayed active in the cricket ecosystem, joining the Women's Premier League franchise Gujarat Giants as a mentor and advisor. Over her illustrious career, Mithali has received multiple prestigious national awards, including the Arjuna Award in 2003, the Padma Shri in 2015, and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021, cementing her legacy as a true pioneer of the game.

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