Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: “You have inspired millions of girls to take up this sport” – Tributes to Mithali Raj after announcing retirement
Mithali Raj announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on Wednesday. The move marks the end of an era for women’s cricket in India considering that Mithali has been a pioneer of the sport in the country. In a career lasting 22 years, she amassed 7805 runs at an average of 50.7 in 232 ODIs.
She also notched 2364 runs at 37.5 in 89 T20Is and maintained an impressive average of 43.7 to bag 699 runs in 12 Test matches. But her stature and prominence in the sport is way above all these numbers. Mithali has been the face of women’s cricket in India for the longest time.
Her inspirational leadership and incredible batting were instrumental to the Indian team’s heroic run to the finals of the 50-over World Cup in 2017. Several female cricketers in India hail her as the figure who encouraged them to take up the sport professionally in the country.
Mithali was perhaps the definition of the most perfect, textbook batter that the sport has ever seen. Her shots seemed to be taken straight out of the cricketing manual as the 39-year-old excelled in all formats, in every condition and against each opposition. Here are some of the finest takes and reactions on the news of her retirement from social media.
Reactions to Mithali Raj retiring from international cricket
“I feel now is the perfect time to call curtains on my playing career as the team is in the capable hands of some very talented young players and the future of the Indian cricket in bright. I’d like to thank the BCCI and Shri Jay Shah sir (Honorary Secretary, BCCI) for all the support I have received – first as a player and then as Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team,” Mithali’s official statement read, as reported by Firstpost.
She added, “It was an honour to have led the team for so many years. It definitely shaped me as a person and hopefully helped shape Indian Women’s Cricket as well.”
Following her retirement, Harmanpreet Kaur has now been named the Indian captain in both ODI and the T20I formats.
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