“A Role Model, A Story, A Journey,” Twitter Reacts As Mithali Raj Retires After 23 Yrs Long Career

India is a nation of cricket crazy people and the good thing is that women’s cricket is also getting popular nowadays and it is no more living in the shadow of men’s cricket. Mithali Raj, the Indian women cricketer, has played an important role in making women’s cricket famous as she represented India for 23 long years but with heavy heart, we have to say that she has announced retirement from all forms of cricket.

This big news was announced by Mithali Raj herself as she took to the micro-blogging site Twitter and made a heartwarming post with the caption, “Thank you for all your love & support over the years! I look forward to my 2^nd innings with your blessing and support.”

In her post, she stated that she started her journey as a little girl who wanted to wear the Indian jersey as representing one’s country is the highest honour and the last 23 years of her life have been the most challenging, fulfilling and enjoyable as well. She further wrote that every time she stepped on the field, she tried her best to make India win and now she feels that it is perfect time for her to hang her boots as the Indian cricket is in safe hands of some young Indian cricketers and there is no doubt that future of the Indian cricket is very bright.

She thanked the BCCI and Jay Shah for the support that she got as a player and a skipper and she also thanked her fans for their love and support. Mithali also added that leadership of the Indian women’s team certainly shaped her as a human and she tried to shape the women’s cricket to the best of her capability. Mithali Raj hinted that she may have taken retirement but she will still like to remain involved in the game and help in growth of the women cricket in India and all over the world as well.

Here is her post:

Check out her tweet:

Mithali Raj made her ODI debut in the year 1999 and in her debut match, she scored a century because of which she became the youngest woman cricketer to score a century as she was just around 16 yrs old at that time. Mithali has represented the country in all the three formats – in 12 test matches she has scored 699 runs, in 232 ODIs she has scored 7805 runs and in 89 T20Is that she played she scored 2364 runs.

Currently she is the highest run scorer in the women’s cricket world with 10,868 international runs across all the formats. She has had the longest ODI career and she also holds the record of leading the country in the most number of matches (155). She is also first player to score 7 consecutive 50s in ODIs and the only woman cricketer to reach the mark of 7K runs in international cricket.

Mithali Raj is certainly a legend who served the country and the game for 23 years and as she announced her retirement, Twitter was flooded with reactions. here are few selected ones:

Though Mithal Raj’s retirement was not a surprise as age is not on her side, she has also made it clear that the Women’s World Cup 2022 will be her last tournament.

A movie has also been made on Mithali Raj’s life and it will hit the theatres on July 15. Directed by Srijit Mukerji and bankrolled by Viacom 18 Studios, the flick has been titled as “Shabaash Mithu” in which the lead role is being played by Taapsee Pannu.

The “Thappad” actress took to her official Instagram account and posted a photo of herself with Mithali Raj with the lovely caption,

“Youngest ODI captain for Indian cricket Team

-The only Indian cricketer to captain the team in 4 world cups and reach finals twice!

-Youngest cricketer to score 200 in a test match

-Highest scoring Indian cricketer in the debut international match

-The only Indian cricketer to score 7 consecutive 50s in ODI

-23 years from hustle to glory.

Some personalities and their achievements are gender agnostic.You changed the game, now it’s our turn to change the perspective! Etched in history OUR CAPTAIN forever @mithaliraj On to the next innings of life”

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Happy retirement, all the best for the second innings and thank you for everything, legend!