Mithali Raj

Mithali Dorai Raj was born on December 3, 1982, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Raised in Hyderabad, she was trained by her father and took to cricket at a very young age, also excelling in Bharatanatyam dance. Mithali made her international debut for India at just 16 years of age in 1999 against Ireland, and in only her third Test match scored an unbeaten 214 against England, which was then a world record in women's Test cricket. This prodigious start set the tone for a career that would span over 23 years.

Over the next two decades, Mithali Raj became the face of women's cricket in India and one of the most celebrated sportswomen in the country. Her elegant and technically sound batting made her the backbone of India's batting lineup across all formats. In ODI cricket, she amassed 7,805 runs in 232 matches at a remarkable average of 50.68, making her the all-time leading run-scorer in the history of women's ODI cricket. She captained India to two ODI World Cup finals (2005 and 2017) and was instrumental in growing the popularity of women's cricket in India.

Mithali retired from international cricket in June 2022, leaving behind a legacy that transcends statistics. She received India's highest sporting honours including the Arjuna Award (2003), Padma Shri (2015), and the Khel Ratna Award (2021). Her dedication, longevity, and consistent excellence over more than two decades paved the way for the next generation of Indian women cricketers. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers India has ever produced, male or female.