New Delhi: One of the greatest female cricketers of all time, Mithali Raj celebrates her 42nd birthday on Tuesday, December 03. The former Indian women’s cricket team captain has inspired a generation of women cricketers across the country with her unparalleled achievements for the Indian team across formats.

While she is regarded as one of the best batters India have ever produced, Mithali also led the Indian women’s cricket team for several years and took the team to greater heights under her leadership. The former India cricketer holds multiple records across formats and remains the highest run-getter of all time in women’s ODIs.

Mithali was born on December 2, 1982, in Rajasthan and began her cricketing journey at the tender age of 10. She was a child prodigy and had the traits of a successful cricketer right from the start of her career. Mithali made waves in the domestic circuit before making her international debut for India at the young age of 16.

Mithali made her India debut in an ODI against Ireland in 1999 and announced her arrival in style with an unbeaten century to propel India to a big win. It was the start of a special career as the former India batter went on to rewrite history in women’s cricket by setting new benchmarks and breaking multiple records with her batting heroics.

Mithali Raj’s achievements

Mithali’s consistency with the bat earned him the tag of the Queen of Indian cricket with many also calling her the ‘Sachin Tendulkar of women’s cricket’. Mithali, who retired from international cricket in 2022, was the first Indian woman to complete 10,000 runs in international cricket. She also remains the only cricketer with more than 7,000 runs in women’s ODIs.

Mithali also remains the youngest to score a double hundred in women’s Tests. The former India captain had notched up her maiden Test double ton against England at the age of 19 years and 254 days. She led India in a total of 155 matches as captain, the most by any captain in women’s ODI history.

Under Mithali’s captaincy, India recorded their first-ever Test series victory in England in 2006 and also made it to the finals of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cups in 2005 and 2017. Mithali has been honoured with numerous awards in her career, including the prestigious Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri.