First Indian Woman To Score 10,000 International Runs And Mithali Raj's Top Five Records

Mithali Raj records: Mithali Raj scripted history today by becoming the first Indian batswoman to score 10,000 international runs. The India skipper is only the second player ever to achieve the landmark after England’s Charlotte Edwards (10,273 runs).

Here's a look at the top five milestones the Indian woman cricketer has achieved in her glorious career spanning more than 20 years:

Mithali Raj completes 20 years in ODI cricket

Raj has, undoubtedly, been one of the greatest faces in Indian cricket. In 2019, she became the first woman to finish 20 years in cricket. The Indian skipper played her first-ever ODI for India way back in June 1999 versus Ireland. It was her international debut, at the age of 17. 20 years later, she guided India in her 205th ODI against South Africa in 2019. After which she became the only woman cricketer to have played ODI cricket for over two decades. Here Are Five Great Knocks From Mithali Raj’s Cricketing Career

Longest One-Day International careers:

22 years 91 days – Sachin Tendulkar (Dec 1989 – Mar 2012)
21 years 184 days – Sanath Jayasuriya (Dec 1989 – Jun 2011)
20 years 272 days – Javed Miandad (Jun 1975 – Mar 1996)
20 years 105 days* – Mithali Raj (Jun 1999 – Present)

Mithali Raj is currently the captain of the Women’s ODI team. She became the first Indian woman and the second female cricketer in the world to cross 5000 ODI runs.

First woman to play 200 matches in the ODI format

Raj already secured the record for the highest number of ODIs played by a female cricketer (204), ahead of second-placed England’s Charlotte Edwards (191). India’s veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami is third on the list with 178 matches. Mithali Raj has also recorded the highest score by an Indian woman in T20s. Raj has played 10 tests, scoring 663 runs which include a double hundred (214) against England in Taunton in 2002. She has played 211 ODIs in total and as many as 82 T20Is, including the three Women’s World Cups in 2012 (Sri Lanka), 2014 (Bangladesh) and 2016 (India), for Team India.

First Indian cricketer to score 2000 runs in T20I

Raj, who drove India to the final of the 2017 Women’s World Cup,  is also a good bowler, specialising in right-arm leg breaks. The batswoman became the first Indian cricketer to score 2000 runs in Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) in 2018.

Mithali Raj - Player with most international appearances in Women’s Cricket

During the second ODI against South Africa on March 9, she broke the record for most international appearances in women’s cricket. Raj became the most capped female player in the history of international women’s cricket by recording her 310th appearance on Tuesday. She has surpassed England’s Charlotte Edwards to become the most capped women’s player on the international circuit.

First female cricketer to win the Wisden India Cricketer of the Year

Mithali Raj was honoured with the Wisden India Cricketers of the Year for 2015. She became the first female cricketer to win the award.

Picture Credit: BCCI