Published: Sep 03, 2019, 03:46 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 03, 2019, 03:46 PM (IST)
Mithali Raj announced her retirement from T20 Internationals on Tuesday. She led India women in 32 T20Is India including 3 Women’s T20 World Cups in 2012 (Sri Lanka), 2014 (Bangladesh) and 2016 (India). She was the captain when India played their first ever women’s T20 International in Derby in 2006. In 89 T20 Internationals, Mithali scored 2364 runs including 17 fifties with a career-best 97 not out.
Congratulations Mithali! Well played! Your contribution to Indian cricket has been immense and will continue to remain; even as you quit the T20 format. @M_Raj03 @BCCI
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) September 3, 2019
Former India captain Anjum Chopra led tributes on Twitter to the flagbearers of Indian women’s cricket. “Congratulations Mithali! Well played! Your contribution to Indian cricket has been immense and will continue to remain; even as you quit the T20 format. @M_Raj03 @BCCI,” she wrote.
Mithali played her last T2I against England on March 9, 2019 and remained unbeaten on 30 off 32 balls.
“After representing India in T20 internationals since 2006, I wish to retire from T20Is to focus my energies on readying myself for the 2021 One Day World Cup. It remains my dream to win a World Cup for my country and I want to give it my best. I thank the BCCI for their continuous support and wish the Indian T20 team good luck as they prepare for the home series against South Africa Women,” Mithali was quoted saying in a BCCI press release.
Here are some other tributes on Twitter:
One of players who has taken the women’s game to another level. Though surely @M_Raj03 you are looking for one last swan song in 50 overs?! https://t.co/Ni5gK5f2kw
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) September 3, 2019
#MithaliRaj retires from T20Is, joining Jhulan Goswami as an ODI specialist. She’s made immense contributions, possesses mind boggling numbers, and deserves all the acclaim.
Thank you, @M_Raj03!
I have no doubt we’ll see her in the 2021 ODI World Cup.
— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) September 3, 2019
Well played to the great @M_Raj03 as she retires from T20 internationals. One of the pioneers. Looking forward to one final charge at the World Cup in 2021.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 3, 2019
LEGEND RETIRES!
Mithali Raj retires from T20 internationals as the 6th highest run scorer in the women’s game (2,364), and with the highest career average (37.52) of any woman to have scored more than 500+ runs. #ThankYouMithaliRaj @M_Raj03 #MithaliRaj #MithaliRajRetires pic.twitter.com/ZsxLRzXpx1
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 3, 2019
BREAKING: Mithali Raj calls curtains on an illustrious T20I career! pic.twitter.com/iNfcSbdeHM
— ICC (@ICC) September 3, 2019
TRENDING NOW
