Veteran Indian batsmen Mithali Raj, on Tuesday, announced her retirement from T20I cricket to focus more on the upcoming 50-overs 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
After being India’s first T20I captain in 2006, the now 36-year-old went on to play 89 matches for her country, scoring 2364 runs at an average of 37.52 in the process. Her last T20I came earlier this year against England Women in Guwahati.
"After representing India in T20 internationals since 2006, I wish to retire from T20Is to focus my energies on readying myself for the 2021 One Day World Cup," she said in a BCCI press release.
"It remains my dream to win a World Cup for my country and I want to give it my best. I thank the BCCI for their continuous support and wish the Indian T20 team good luck as they prepare for the home series against South Africa Women."
Mithali, who captained India in 32 T20Is including three Women’s WT20 World Cups in 2012 (Sri Lanka), 2014 (Bangladesh) and 2016 (India), is the only Indian to score more than 2000 runs in the shortest format. Added to this, she finishes her career as the sixth highest run-scorer in T20Is after Suzie Bates, Stafanie Taylor, Charlotte Edwards, Meg Lanning and Deandra Dottin.
37.5 - Of the 74 women to score 500+ T20I runs, @M_Raj03 has the best batting average (37.5), whilst only two women have notched up more 50+ scores in this international format (17, Suzie Bates 22, Stafanie Taylor 21). Legend. pic.twitter.com/i50lMUWk1g
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 3, 2019
It was only last week that she had said she is willing to play the upcoming T20Is against South Africa, but the questions remained whether the selectors would pick her in the first place or not.
Meanwhile, she found herself in the middle of massive controversy during the last T20 World Cup where she claimed that she has been unfairly dropped from the starting XI for the semi-final clash. India’s then head coach, Ramesh Powar, responded by saying she has been threatening to pull out of the tournament and announce her retirement if she is not allowed to open.
With India looking forward to field young players for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Raj’s role in the team came under scrutiny. And since then, she has fallen out of favour with the team management.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Indranil Mukherjee
