Indian women’s cricket team captain, Mithali Raj has called it quits from the T20 format.
BREAKING: @M_Raj03 announces retirement from T20Is
She led India in 32 T20Is including the three Women’s WT20 World Cups in 2012 (Sri Lanka), 2014 (Bangladesh) and 2016 (India).
More details here – https://t.co/Yuv1CaCXFv pic.twitter.com/Y6n5irOoME
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) September 3, 2019
Mithali’s decision was made to shift focus towards her ODI career. Now, she wants to concentrate on the 50-over 2021 World Cup, to be held in New Zealand. Take a look at the statement made by the skipper about her retirement:
http://www.bcci.tv/news/2019/press-releases/18389/mithali-raj-announces-retirement-from-t20is
The 36 year-old batsman bid adieu to her career in the format, becoming India’s top scorer with 2364 runs in 89 matches and is the sixth highest run scorer in the format. Also, she is the first Indian (male or female) to reach the 2,000 runs mark in this format.
Mithali Raj's T20I career saw her take part in six @T20WorldCup campaigns. Here's how she performed at them ⬇️ https://t.co/qxBNtCP1sb
— ICC (@ICC) September 4, 2019
Raj made her T20I debut in 1999 and played her last match against England in March 2019. The batsman has captained 32 T20’s for India, including three women’s T20 World Cup. In 2006, she was the captain for the first-ever T20I, played in Derby by the women’s team.
"I wish to retire from T20Is to focus my energies on readying myself for the 2021 Women's @cricketworldcup."
Bowing out from the shortest format, @M_Raj03 declares that she still has big ambitions in ODIs.https://t.co/baEixWmRUv
— ICC (@ICC) September 3, 2019
Meanwhile, cricket fraternity congratulated Mithali on an admirable T20I career:
Congratulations Mithali! Well played! Your contribution to Indian cricket has been immense and will continue to remain; even as you quit the T20 format. @M_Raj03 @BCCI
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) September 3, 2019
One of players who has taken the women’s game to another level. Though surely @M_Raj03 you are looking for one last swan song in 50 overs?! https://t.co/Ni5gK5f2kw
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) September 3, 2019
We wish her all the best for her future endeavours.
