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Mithali Raj

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Mithali Raj is one of the greatest female cricketers to ever play the game. She was a legendary player from India who led her national team for many years. As a captain, she guided her teammates through many important matches. She even led India into two different ICC ODI World Cup finals. People often call her the "Lady Tendulkar of Indian Women's cricket." This nickname shows how much respect people have for her skill. She is a true icon of the sport.

The President, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam presenting the Arjuna Award, 2003 to Ms. Mithali Raj at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 2003 (Low Resolution)
The President, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam presenting the Arjuna Award, 2003 to Ms. Mithali Raj at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 2003 (Low Resolution)

Playing cricket requires great focus and many years of practice. Mithali started her journey when she was only ten years old. She received coaching in elementary school alongside her older brother. She worked hard to master the art of batting. In her career, she played in all three cricket formats: Test, ODI, and T20. She became very good at scoring runs in every type of match. This hard work helped her reach many amazing milestones.

Mithali's career began in the early days of her youth. She was born on 3 December 1982, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Her father, Dorai Raj, was a warrant officer in the Indian Air Force. She made her ODI debut in 1999 against Ireland in the UK. At just fourteen, she was even named for the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup squad. She eventually played for twenty years in international cricket. She finally announced her retirement from all international formats on 8 June 2022.

The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, 2021 to Ms. Mithali Raj for Cricket, in a glittering ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on November 13, 2021
The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, 2021 to Ms. Mithali Raj for Cricket, in a glittering ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on November 13, 2021

Her record books are filled with incredible numbers and achievements. She is the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket. In July 2021, she broke a record to have the most runs ever. She is also the only female cricketer to pass 7,000 runs in WODI matches. Mithali was the first player to score seven consecutive 50s in ODIs. She was also the first woman to reach 2,000 runs in T20Is. These feats show her amazing consistency over time.

Because she was so successful, Mithali received many high honors. She won the Arjuna Award in 2003. In 2015, she received the Padma Shri, which is India's fourth highest civilian award. She also won the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2021. This is the highest sporting honor in India. Outside of cricket, she is a Bharatanatyam dancer. Her life was even made into a movie called Shabaash Mithu. This film was released on 15 July 2022.

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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:The President, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam presenting the Arjuna Award, 2003 to Ms. Mithali Raj at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 2003 (Low Resolution).png
The President, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam...
File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Ms. Mithali Raj, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 08, 2015.jpg
The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee...
File:The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, 2021 to Ms. Mithali Raj for Cricket, in a glittering ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on November 13, 2021.jpg
The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind...
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