Indian Captain Mithali Raj Becomes The Highest Run-Scorer In Women’s Cricket Across All Formats
Indian female cricket team captain Mithali Raj has become the highest run-getter in women’s cricket across formats, overtaking former England skipper Charlotte Edwards on Saturday. Mithali has achieved the feat during the third and final inconsequential ODI against hosts England while chasing 220 for a consolation win. The batter got to the milestone with a boundary down the ground Nat Schiver in the 23rd over of the innings.
Mithali now became the world’s most productive player in women’s internationals by overtaking Edwards’s 10,273 runs. The third player in the world with the highest runs list is New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who has scored 7849 runs in 247 matches, followed by West Indies’ Stefanie Taylor, with 7834 runs in 256 matches.
Mithali’s furious batting and score of unbeaten 75 not out helped India to chase down the 220-run target with four wickets in hand in a rain-affected encounter. Due to rain, the match was reduced to 47 overs only.
Mithali’s sportsman spirit is already we saw but after the match, she said that she wanted to stay out in the middle and win the match for the team. This shows her concern for her responsibilities as captain.
Mithali said at the post-match presentation ceremony, “I never gave up in the middle. It’s being in the middle because you can’t win the match sitting out in the dugout. I wanted to win the game for the team.”
“We just needed one good partnership to take us through. I knew I could manage the game in the middle overs, but when you have young players you have to guide them,” she said after the match.
Mithali added, “I have enjoyed chasing. I wanted to be there and win the game for the team, I picked the bowlers to attack and along the way guided Sneh Rana. It is always good to have an all-rounder in the side, she (Sneh) has been phenomenal for us throughout the series.”
Mithali Raj is at the peak of her career. She hails from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and has Padma Shri and Arjuna Award to her name. the cricketer is making India proud and is proving to be an inspiration for women who always wanted to take up cricket as a profession. Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu will portray Mithali in her upcoming biopic.
