Career

Career

Raj has played both Test and One Day International cricket for India women's cricket team. She made her One Day International debut in 1999 against Ireland at Milton Keynes and scored 114 runs without getting out in that match. She made her Test match debut in the 2001-02 season against England at Lucknow. On 17 August 2002, at the age of 19, in her third Test, she broke Karen Rolton's record of World’s highest individual Test score of 209 by scoring a new high of 214 against England in the second and final Test at Taunton. The record has since been surpassed by Kiran Baluch of Pakistan who scored 242 against West Indies in March 2004.^{[citation needed]}

Mithali was taken ill with a strain of typhoid in the CricInfo Women's World Cup in 2002, seriously hampering India's progress. However, she then led them to their first World Cup final in 2005, in South Africa, where they met Australia who proved just too strong. In August 2006, she led the side to their first ever Test and series victory in England and wrapped up the year winning the Asia Cup - the second time in 12 months - without dropping a single game.

She led the Indian team to the finals in the Women's Cricket World Cup of 2005 where the team lost to Australia. She is a part-time leg break bowler as well. She is a recipient of the Arjuna award for the year 2003. She currently tops the batting table with 703 ratings points. Her composure when at the crease and ability to score briskly make her a dangerous customer. In addition to her ability with the bat, Mithali rolls her arm over bowling leg-spinners and providing variety to the attack.

At the 2013 Women's World Cup, Mithali started as the no.1 cricketer in the ODI chart among women.