Happy Birthday Mithali Raj: The Indian cricketing legend who is seldom reverred as the amount she deserves

One of Indian cricket's legendary players - Mithali Raj - turns 38 on December 3, 2020. Mithali, who has been playing international cricket for over 20 years has broken many a records in Women's cricket and probably defined it in India.

Mithali, who bid goodbye to the shortest format of the game last year, was eyeing ICC Women's World Cup 2021 as her last assignment on national duty. With the World Cup being postponed to 2022, even though chances of her leading India in that World Cup look slim, still hope for seeing her don blue for the final time in New Zealand.

The record-breaker

Mithali, who became the youngest player to score a century on ODI debut when she was just 16 in 1999, now leads the charts for most runs in the format. She has played 209 games (most by any player in the format) and amassed 6888 runs at a staggering average of 50.64.

Recipient of accolades like Arjuna Award, Padma Shri among many others, Mithali has been one of the consistent and respected sportspersons of the country.

These numbers are just the evidence, which stamp her authority over the game in the last two decades, where men rule the roost. With her immaculate footwork and a magnificient playing style, she has ruled the batting charts for a number of years now.

Captain Fantanstic

Leading her country in the most number of games, Mithali Raj has defined captaincy and leadership in a sport which is as much about a team, as it is about the one who leads the team.

She has led India to World Cup finals (in 2005 and 2017) and aims to put all her energies to see India to go for the glory in 2022 World Cup, if she plays. She has bettered the quality of cricket and inspired a generation of girls, who still are burdened under patriarchal mindset of many families in the country. 

While in the recent few years, she has been vocal about the importance of Women's cricket and its growth, she is most known for being the 'serial chiller' on the playing field.

Mithali, who is surely going to go down as country's one of the best players to ever play the game, has been one of the biggest icons of Women's cricket around the world and is definitely a great ambassador of the game in India.