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Mithali Raj Becomes the First Woman to Complete 20 Years in International Cricket
By Shruti - Oct 10, 2019 6:14 pm
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Indian captain Mithali Raj has become the first woman cricketer to complete 20 years in International Cricket. She achieved the rare feat while she walked on the field during the first ODI of the three-match series between India and South Africa at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara on Wednesday. She scored an unbeaten 11 as India clinched an eight-wicket win against the Proteas.

Mithali Raj
Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj made her ODI debut against Ireland on June 26, 1999, and she has completed 20 years and 105 days of her career in the ODI format. She is also the only player to have played in ODI for over two decades.

The captain, however, holds a couple of records. She has the record of playing the maximum number of ODIs in women’s cricket as she has played 204 ODIs till now. Former England captain Charlotte Edwards (191), Jhulan Goswami (178), former Australia player Alex Blackwell (144) of Australia are behind her. The 36-year-old has represented India in 10 Tests and 89 T20Is as well while last month, Mithali Raj announced her retirement from the shortest format of the game.

Legendary India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for having the longest international career — 22 years and 91 days. The second place belongs to Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya (21 years and 184 days) and then Javed Miandad (20 years and 272 days) of Pakistan, with Mithali joining in at the fourth spot.

Read here: Priya Punia Star On Debut As India Beat South Africa In 1st ODI

mithali
Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj led India in 32 T20I matches, including the three World T20 in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

“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. It remains my dream to win a World Cup for my country and I want to give it my best,” Mithali Raj told in a statement released by the BCCI.

Mithali is eyeing the 2021 ICC World Cup now and it would be great if India could win the title.