There Were Times When I Wanted To Give Up, It Wasn't An Easy Journey - Mithali Raj On Becoming Leading Run-Scorer In Women's International Cricket

Mithali Raj, India women’s Test and ODI captain, on Saturday, became the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket surpassing former England captain Charlotte Edwards. She achieved this feat in her match-winning knock of 75* during the third ODI of the lost series against England.

Mithali Raj now has scored 10337 runs in a career spanning 22 years. Following the victory in Worcester, the right-hander talked about the ups and downs in her journey, and how she continues to have the hunger to score runs, and adding “certain dimensions” to her batting with the next year’s world cup in sight.

“The way things have gone it wasn’t an easy journey. It had its trials and challenges. I always believed that trials have a purpose. There were times when I wanted to give up for various reasons but something kept me going and here I am 22 years of international cricket but the hunger for runs have never sort of dried up,” Mithali Raj said at the virtual post-match press conference.

“I am still very passionate to go out there, be there in the middle and win games for India. I know there is still room for improvements in terms of my batting and that is something I am working on… There are certain dimensions I would like to add to my batting,” she added.

You can’t win the match sitting out in the dugout: Mithali Raj

Speaking about the game, Mithali Raj, who had already struck two fifties in a previous couple of games but those came in losses, emphasized the importance of staying till the end and completing the chase. She shared a crucial 50-run stand for the sixth wicket with all-rounder Sneh Rana, who scored 24 runs off 22 balls, and completed then herself took the side over the line with a boundary with three balls to spare.

“I never gave up in the middle. It’s being in the middle because you can’t win the match sitting out in the dugout. I wanted to win the game for the team.

“I just needed to get the partnership to take it to the last. That’s something that kept me going through the innings. I knew in the middle overs I could manage the game. When you have young players in the side, you need to guide them along, that’s a responsibility,” the skipper stated.