Mithali Dorai Raj is a former Indian cricketer who captained the India women's national cricket team in Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) formats. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished batters in the history of women's cricket, she is the highest run-scorer in women's ODI cricket and was the first woman cricketer to score over 7,000 runs in ODIs. She announced her retirement from international cricket in June 2022 after a career spanning more than two decades.
| Full name | Mithali Dorai Raj |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 December 1982, Jodhpur, Rajasthan |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Bowling style | Right-arm legbreak |
| Role | Top-order batter |
| International debut | ODI: 26 June 1999 vs Ireland, Milton Keynes |
| Test debut | 14 January 2002 vs South Africa, Lucknow |
| T20I debut | 5 August 2006 vs England, Derby |
| Domestic team | Railways |
| Retirement | 8 June 2022 |
| Major honours | Arjuna Award (2003), Padma Shri (2015), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2021) |
Mithali Raj was born on 3 December 1982 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, into a Tamil family. Her father, Dorai Raj, served in the Indian Air Force. The family later moved to Secunderabad, where she grew up. Initially trained in Bharatanatyam, she shifted her focus to cricket in childhood and was coached at St. John's Coaching Foundation in Secunderabad and later by Sampath Kumar. She also trained under former India cricketer Sammy.
Raj made her ODI debut at the age of 16 against Ireland during India's tour of England in 1999, scoring an unbeaten 114 in her first match. In 2002, at age 19, she scored 214 against England at County Ground, Taunton, which was then the highest individual score in women's Test cricket. The record was later surpassed by Pakistan's Kiran Baluch.
Raj was appointed captain of the Indian women's team in 2005 and led India to the final of the 2005 ICC Women's World Cup in South Africa, where they lost to Australia. She again led India to the final of the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup in England, where the team lost to the hosts by nine runs at Lord's. She also captained India at the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
In Indian domestic cricket she represented Railways, one of the dominant sides in the women's circuit. She also played in the Women's T20 Challenge, captaining the Velocity franchise.
Mithali Raj announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on 8 June 2022. She finished as one of the most-capped players in women's ODI history and India's leading run-scorer across formats at the time of her retirement.
After retirement, Raj has been associated with cricket administration and mentorship roles. She was appointed mentor of the India team for the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) season and later served as a mentor for the Gujarat Giants franchise. A biographical film titled Shabaash Mithu, directed by Srijit Mukherji and starring Taapsee Pannu, was released in 2022.
Raj's career is regarded as a turning point for women's cricket in India. Her longevity, consistency and leadership through the period in which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took over administration of the women's game from the Women's Cricket Association of India in 2006 helped raise the profile of the sport. The 2017 World Cup final, which she captained, drew unprecedented television viewership for women's cricket in India and is credited with accelerating professional contracts, increased pay and the eventual launch of the Women's Premier League in 2023.