India Women’s skipper Mithali Raj has announced retirement from all forms of the game at the age of 39. Raj has led the national team in eight Tests, 155 ODIs, and 32 T20Is. She left the T20I captaincy in 2016 after which current skipper Harmanpreet Kaur took over. However, the right-hander kept playing the shortest format before she retired in 2019. The Jodhpur-born player kept leading the team in the 50-over and the longest format.
She took to Twitter to announce her retirement. In the note uploaded on the micro-blogging site, she said that it is the right to call it quits on the playing career. Meanwhile, she didn’t reveal her future plans but said that it was an honor to represent the country at the highest level
The 39-year-old has played 232 ODIs, 12 Tests, and 89 T20Is. Across formats, she is the all-time highest aggregate run getter with 10,868 runs. In ODIs, T20Is and Tests, she has amassed 7805, 699, and 2364 runs respectively. Also, she has one hundred in the longest format while seven in the One Day game. She still has the record of being the youngest centurion in the Women’s game as she scored a hundred at the age of 16.
This is how Twitter reacted
Congratulations @M_Raj03 on your remarkable career!
Our partnerships on the field are the memories I will cherish forever. Thank you for all that you have done for the game. Wishing you all the very best for your future. Keep shining & keep inspiring?#MithaliRaj— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) June 8, 2022
#MithaliRaj is the first woman cricketer in the world to cross 2,000 T20I runs. She won the Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World in 2017, Arjuna Award in 2003, the Padma Shri in 2015, and Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna in 2021. pic.twitter.com/vxOxIDO5IG
— Business Insider India?? (@BiIndia) June 8, 2022
It started with a ? on debut in 1999, and #MithaliRaj continued to put a smile as wide as this one on Indian Cricket fans' faces over an illustrious career of more than 2??2?? years ???
At the end of it, all we can say is '???????? ?????!' ?? pic.twitter.com/WKSF7hcelI
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) June 8, 2022
In India, the name Mithali Raj has been synonymous to women's cricket. You have been an inspiration to millions all over the world. My best wishes to you for your future endeavours @M_Raj03. ? pic.twitter.com/kchguzAB8E
— DK (@DineshKarthik) June 8, 2022
Congratulations on an incredible playing career @M_Raj03 The world is your oyster and I can’t wait to see where you go from here
— Isobel Joyce (@izzyjoyce) June 8, 2022
Congratulations on a wonderful career @M_Raj03! Not only have you set remarkable records, you led by example each time you stepped on to the field. Countless youngsters around the world look up to you with inspiration and pride! Here’s wishing you good luck for the next innings! pic.twitter.com/6b6AsI4Ez2
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) June 8, 2022
An icon and true inspiration to so Many @M_Raj03 , congratulations for an illustrious career and for your contribution to Indian cricket.Whatever comes next for you, may it bring you the same joy and fulfillment.
#WomensCricket pic.twitter.com/u93bk0SuA3— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) June 8, 2022
Even though you know this day is coming, you can’t help but feel a little sad ?. An amazing player that put cricket on the map especially in ?? Loved playing against you & enjoyed watching you adapt your game to keep up with all these youngsters. Enjoy the next phase Mithali xx https://t.co/QIK9nE1Vdo
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) June 8, 2022
Congratulations @M_Raj03 on a glorious career. You are a role model and an inspiration to many. Wishing you the very best in your second innings ??
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) June 8, 2022
Congratulations on a marvellous career @M_Raj03 ? You’ve been a fine example for cricketers across the country. Good luck for whatever lies ahead ?? https://t.co/VuHla1691e
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) June 8, 2022
