Mithali Raj, the first true superstar of Indian women’s cricket, shattered barriers and inspired generations, transforming the women’s game in India forever.

Across a storied international career spanning 23 years, Mithali Raj represented India 333 times across formats, scoring a mammoth 10868 runs – still the most by any player in women’s international cricket.

To draw context, only two others – New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and England’s Charlotte Edwards – have scored over 10000 runs in women’s cricket.

Mithali’s leadership was as commanding as her batting and she is the first and only captain – across men’s or women’s cricket – to lead India to two ICC World Cup finals.

Born on December 3, 1982, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Mithali Raj grew up in Secunderabad, Telangana, where her journey in cricket began almost by accident.

Her father, Dorai Raj, an Indian Air Force officer, would take Mithali to her brother’s cricket training sessions to ensure she woke up early and stayed disciplined.

Initially indifferent to the sport, Mithali soon picked up the bat and showed an extraordinary natural talent.

Her early training was guided by coach Jyothi Prasad, who spotted her penchant for the sport, and later by Sampath Kumar, a strict mentor who shaped her into one of the most technically sound batters in the world.

Mithali Raj’s cricket career

Mithali’s rise was rapid. She was selected for the Andhra Pradesh state team at 13 and made her India debut at 16, scoring an unbeaten 114 in her ODI debut against Ireland at Milton Keynes in 1999.

She made her Test debut against England at Lucknow in 2002 and was dismissed for a duck. However, she scored her maiden red ball half century against South Africa in her second outing.

Her third Test, again against England at Taunton, saw Mithali etch her name into the history books.

In August 2002, at the Country Ground, Mithali scored 214 runs against England, breaking Australia’s Karen Rolton’s world record for the highest individual score in women’s Test cricket at the time.

Though the record was later broken by Pakistan’s Kiran Baluch, who scored 242 against the West Indies two years later, Mithali’s innings against England is still the second-highest score in the format.

Mithali played only 12 Test matches in her career and scored 699 runs at an average of over 40.

Just 19 years and 254 days old at the time, Mithali is still the youngest double centurion in women’s Test cricket.

However, it was Mithali’s consistency in ODIs which propelled her to legendary status.

Mithali became the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs with 7805 runs at an average of 50.68, a record that still stands. She has 64 fifties in the format – more than anyone else.

She also remains the only woman to have scored seven consecutive ODI fifties.

The Indian ace also marked her presence in women’s T20I cricket. She represented India 89 times in the shortest format and accumulated 2364 runs at an average of 37.52 before stepping away from the format in 2019.

She is the third-fastest player to log 2000-plus runs in the shortest format, only after Beth Mooney and Stafanie Taylor. Mithali is also the first woman and Indian – male or female – to reach the 2000-run milestone in T20I cricket.

Mithali Raj’s captaincy and milestones

Handed the captaincy in 2005, Mithali led the Indian women’s cricket team to its first-ever ODI World Cup final later that year in South Africa.

Under her leadership, Indian women’s cricket reached new heights – including the team’s first Test and series win in England in 2006, and back-to-back Asia Cup titles without losing a single match.

Her leadership and batting prowess once again took India to the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup final, where she earned the distinction of being the first Indian captain to lead the side to two World Cup finals.

During the tournament, Mithali also surpassed Charlotte Edwards to become the highest run-scorer in women’s ODI history and the first woman to cross 6000 ODI runs.

In 2019, at the age of 36, Mithali became the first woman to complete two decades in ODI cricket, marking her as one of the most enduring figures in the sport.

She captained India again at the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, where she broke the world record for most matches captained (24) in ICC Women’s World Cup history, surpassing Belinda Clark.

Before retiring from international cricket, she also served as a batting consultant and a player-coach for the Indian women’s cricket team.

Mithali Raj’s legacy and achievements

Over the years, Mithali has received numerous accolades, including the Arjuna Award (2003) and the Padma Shri (2015). She also topped the ICC ODI batting charts in 2013.

However, Mithali’s true legacy lies in her role in popularising women’s cricket in India.

From being introduced to cricket as a reluctant child to becoming one of its greatest ambassadors, Mithali Raj’s journey mirrors the evolution of women’s cricket in India – from obscurity to global recognition.

Over two decades, she not only carried the sport on her shoulders but also laid the foundation for future stars like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues to flourish.

Calm and unflappable at the crease, graceful and resolute off it, Mithali Raj remains the enduring face and spirit of Indian women’s cricket.

In 2022, a biopic on her titled Shabaash Mithu was released with Bollywood star Taapsee Pannu portraying the legendary Indian cricketer.

A pioneer, a record-breaker and a role model – Mithali Raj’s legacy will forever be immortalised in the annals of Indian cricket.