Mithali Raj’s unquestionable legacy in women’s cricket endures for 22 years

Mithali Raj has been associated with Indian women’s cricket for more than two decades. Raj has been a flagbearer of women’s cricket and has contributed greatly to the team’s success over the years. She is one of the greatest ever to have represented the country at the highest level.

Raj will become the first female cricketer to finish 22 years in ODI cricket, and the second overall after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. She made her ODI debut for India against Ireland when she was 16 years old in June 1999, and has since become an integral member of the Indian women’s team in all formats.

Only Sachin Tendulkar, who played ODI cricket for 22 years and 91 days, has played more ODI cricket than Raj, who is now 38 and showing no signs of slowing down as she pursues her dream of hoisting the World Cup for India once more before calling quits on an incredible career in women’s cricket.

Raj has received multiple awards during her illustrious two-decade career. She scored an undefeated 114 on her ODI debut when she was 16 years old, and she hasn’t looked back since. With 7098 runs in 214 matches, she is the leading run scorer in women’s one-day internationals. She has also captained India in 137 ODIs, the most by any captain in women’s cricket.

She is only a few months away from breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI record of 22 years and 91 days to become the format’s longest-serving player.