23 Years, Over 7000 ODI Runs: Highlights From Mithali Raj's Dazzling Cricket Career

Cricketer Mithali Raj announced that she is retiring from all forms of International Cricket. Considered one of the greatest female cricketers of all time, Mithali Raj’s milestones and achievements speak for themselves.

Mithali Raj began playing cricket when she was 10-years-old and has a 23-year long career as a cricketer. She was the Captain of Test and One Day International (ODI) for the Indian women’s national cricket team.

Mithali Raj has an upcoming biographical sports film based on her, titled Shabaash Mithu. Actor Taapsee Pannu will play the role of the now-retired cricketer.

Mithali Raj Milestones

Mithali Raj's milestones include several records and awards during her 23-year career.

• In 2017, Mithali Raj is the first female cricketer to surpass 7,000 runs in Women’s One Day (ODI) matches. She became the highest run-getter in women’s ODI cricket
• Raj became the first player to score seven consecutive half-centuries in ODI matches in 2017.
• She holds the record for most half-centuries in Women’s ODI matches.
• In 2018, Mithali Raj became the first Indian player to score 2,000 runs in Twenty20 Internationals (T20I), beating Virat Kohli. She also became the first woman player to reach 2,000 runs in Women’s T20Is.
• Raj is the only female player to captain India’s team in more than one International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI World Cup final. She was the captain during the 2005 Women’s Cricket World Cup and the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
• In 2019, she became the first female cricketer to play in 200 ODI matches. Indian women have played 263 ODIs in their history, Raj has played in 200 of the matches. Since her debut in ODI matches in 1999, the team played 213 ODI matches and Raj has only been absent for 13 ODI matches.
• In 2019, she became the first woman to complete 20 years in international cricket.
• In 2021, Mithali Raj became the highest run-getter in women’s cricket across formats. She became the first Indian to score 10,000 runs in Women’s cricket.
• Raj holds the record for playing the most consecutive Women’s ODIs for a team at 109.
• In 2015, Mithali Raj won the Padma Shri award and in 2017 she was the Vogue Sportsperson of the Year. In 2021, she received the Khel Ratna Award.

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