This article first appeared in The Print on June 11, 2022.
Mithali Raj’s journey in cricket is a tale of resilience, leadership, and inspiration in a sport that, for much of her career, marginalized women’s participation. Debuting at the age of 16 in 1999, she began her cricketing odyssey in an era when women’s cricket in India was largely ignored, both by fans and the cricketing establishment. Over the next 23 years, Mithali not only transformed herself into one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen but also became the face of women’s cricket in India.
Her record-breaking career is a testament to her exceptional skill and unrelenting dedication. With 10,868 international runs, she holds the record for the most runs in women’s cricket, a feat achieved through countless hours of hard work and determination. She captained the Indian team to two ICC Women’s World Cup finals (in 2005 and 2017), bringing Indian women’s cricket to global prominence and inspiring a generation of young girls to take up the sport.
Despite her remarkable achievements, Mithali’s career also highlights the challenges faced by women cricketers in India. When she started, the infrastructure, financial support, and recognition for women’s cricket were practically non-existent. Even as she led the team through its most successful phases, the gap in support between men’s and women’s cricket remained stark. Her quiet retirement earlier this year underscores the ongoing disparity; the understated farewell she received stands in stark contrast to the celebrations that often accompany the retirement of male cricketing legends.
Mithali’s legacy, however, is not confined to the runs she scored or the matches she won. Her career symbolizes the potential of women cricketers and the transformative power of sport. Under her leadership, women’s cricket in India gained a foothold, with increasing viewership and growing interest in the sport. Players like Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur now carry the torch she lit, representing a new era in Indian women’s cricket.
As the team transitions into this new phase under Harmanpreet’s captaincy, Mithali Raj’s contributions will remain a cornerstone. She leaves behind not just records but also a vision for the future—a cricketing world where women athletes receive the respect and recognition they have long deserved.
Read more: The Print
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