Published 14:13 IST, September 3rd 2019
Mithali Raj announces retirement from T20 Internationals
Senior Indian batswoman Mithali Raj announced her retirement from T20 Internationals. She led India in 32 T20Is India including T20 WCs in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Senior Indian batswoman Mithali Raj announced her retirement from T20 Internationals on Tuesday. She led India in 32 T20Is India including 3 Women's T20 World Cups in 2012 (Sri Lanka), 2014 (Bangladesh) and 2016 (India).
Read statement here:
In a statement issued by BCCI on Tuesday, Mithali Raj has stated that she has decided to retire from T20Is to focus her energy on the 2021 One Day World Cup, speaking about her dream to win the World Cup for India. She further thanked the BCCI for the continued support and wished her team good luck for their T20I preparations. Mithali is the first Indian to reach the landmark of 2000 T20I runs.
“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. 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,” said Mithali Raj in the statement.
Raj's Achievements
Mithali Raj served as the captain during India Women’s first-ever T20I played in Derby back in 2006. Following her win in that game against England Women, Mithali played another 88 games in which she scored 2364 runs - the most by an Indian woman in T20Is.
Notably, she is the only player to have captained India in more than one ICC ODI World Cup final, by doing so twice in 2005 and 2017. She has also served as a batting consultant for India women's national cricket team and had also played as a player-coach.
Updated 14:36 IST, September 3rd 2019