Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj (born 3 December 1982) is a former Indian cricketer and one of the greatest women cricketers in history. She holds the record for the most runs in women's international cricket (10,868) and the most centuries in women's ODIs (7). She captained the Indian women's national cricket team from 2004 to 2022, leading the team to two World Cup finals (2005 and 2017). Born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and raised in Hyderabad, Telangana, Mithali was discovered by coach Sampath Kumar at the age of 10. She made her international debut in 1999 at age 16 and scored an unbeaten 114 — the highest score by an Indian woman on ODI debut. Under Mithali's captaincy, India reached the final of the 2005 Women's Cricket World Cup (losing to Australia) and the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup (losing to England). She led India to multiple Asia Cup titles and was the driving force behind the growth of women's cricket in India. Mithali retired from international cricket in June 2022 after a career spanning 23 years. Her farewell was emotional, with tributes pouring in from around the world. She was praised for her consistency, leadership, and role in making women's cricket mainstream in India.