She had shown a wonderful battling spirit on the field, but she also revealed her strong character off the field during a press conference in 2017.
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Mithali Raj announced her retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, ending her illustrious cricket career. Mitahli scored 10,868 runs in international cricket during her 26-year career, including 12 Test matches, 232 One-Day Internationals, and 89 Twenty-20 Internationals. The former captain not only showed a wonderful battling spirit on the field but also revealed her strong character off the field during a news conference in 2017.
"Do you ask a male cricketer who their favorite female cricketer is?" She reacted when a reporter questioned her about her favorite male cricketer's name.
The reaction went viral on social media because it was well-received.
Mithali sent a statement on social media on Wednesday announcing her retirement. "I appreciate all of your love and support throughout the years!" Mithali had added in the caption, "I look forward to my second innings with your blessing and support."
At the age of 16, the Rajasthan-born cricketer made her international debut in 1999. Her maiden international match was in ODI cricket against Ireland. Mithali announced her entrance with a magnificent century in her first match. She had scored 114 runs (not out) in the match, leading India to a 161-run triumph against Ireland.
Mithali hit a fifty against South Africa in the Women's World Cup in her penultimate ODI match. She also guided the Indian team to victory.
In ODIs, she has appeared in 232 matches for India, scoring 7805 runs at an average of 50.68. She has seven centuries and 64 half-centuries in ODIs to her belt.
Mithali wore the Indian team's shirt 12 times and scored 699 runs in the game's longest format. In Test cricket, Mithali scored one century and four half-centuries.
She became the first woman and just the third cricketer in history to play in six ICC Women's Cricket World Cups earlier this year. Javed Miandad, a former Pakistani cricketer, played in the first six Men's Cricket World Cups between 1975 and 1996, with Sachin Tendulkar starting his World Cup career in 1992.