VETERAN Indian cricketer and India’s ODI captain, Mithali Raj, has revealed that the 50-over World Cup next year will be her “swansong” after a whopping 23 years in the international circuit.
One of the finest cricketers of not just India but in the entire sport, the 38-year-old Raj has been a stalwart and has the record of most runs (7 098), most centuries (7), most half-centuries (62), and most games (214 ODIs) in Women’s 50-over cricket.
Speaking about the 2022 World Cup, she admitted that India needs some good seamers for the quick and bouncy tracks of New Zealand, where the tournament is scheduled to be held.
Speaking about her future during the virtual launch of the book, ‘1971: The Beginning of India’s Cricketing Greatness’, published by Harper Collins and co-authored by Boria Majumdar and Gautam Bhattacharya, Mithali said, “It’s been 21 years of international cricket and I know 2022 is my swansong, The World Cup. The last year is equal to the 20 years of my international cricket.”
The 38-year-old spoke about how she had to keep herself motivated during the pandemic which pushed the marquee tournament back by one year.
“I know we are in difficult times but it takes a lot out of me to keep working on my fitness. I am not getting any younger, in fact, I am getting older and I know the importance of fitness,” Mithali said.
“The importance of being in a very good emotional and mental set-up, knowing that there will be very few tours before the World Cup.” India is set for the away tours in England, Australia, and New Zealand and a home series against West Indies scheduled in-between.
“Every tour (from now on) is important for me as a batter as to how I am going to get the team to regroup and build a team for the World Cup,” she said.
“Yeah, I am very optimistic looking at the girls and in the manner they have been working with whatever facilities they have in these times, and their focus and enthusiasm that a series is coming up,” she added.
She led India to the final of the 2017 World Cup in England. The next edition was delayed due to the pandemic. (CricTracker)
