Mithali has set several records in her illustrious career and her aggregate of 10,868 international runs in 333 matches — ODIS, Tests and T2OI — will take some beating. With most runs in women’s cricket and the only Indian captain – man or woman – to have led the side in two 50-over World Cup finals, the 39-year-old, however, retires without the World Cup trophy in her cabinet.
It was this deep desire to finish as a winner which kept Mithu, as she was fondly called by her family and friends, pushing all boundaries. She was reluctant to call it quits without fulfilling her dream but “like all journeys, this one too must come to an end” as she poignantly noted in her retirement message.
“I set out as a little girl on the journey to wear the Indian blues as representing your country is the highest honour. The journey was full of highs and some lows. Each event taught me something unique and the last 23 years have been the most fulfilling, challenging & enjoyable years of my life,” Mithali stated in her message.
Mithali made her ODI debut at the tender age of 16 and scored an unbeaten 114 against Ireland at Milton Keynes in 1999. “The ride has been quite adventurous because I have seen so many changes in cricket both global as well as domestic. I am one of those players who played from the era of WACI to BCCI, from IWCC to ICC, from empty stadiums to full packed ones, from county grounds to international stadiums. I have seen everything that women’s cricket has come to be today. My own personal journey too has been parallel to the transition of women’s cricket,” she had told ToI.
“When I made my debut, I had a lot of seniors in the side, then players of my own age group, then juniors and now I am rubbing shoulders with teenagers. It is actually the fourth generation of players and a rarity for a player to achieve it. Sachin (Tendulkar), of course, has gone through it. I can only say that I am privileged and lucky,” was how she looked at her career.
Faced with a choice between Bharatanatyam and cricket, Mithali decided to tread the ‘road less travelled’ and that made all the difference. “Two things fascinated me early in my career: classical dance and cricket. It was a difficult choice to make but I preferred cricket and I honestly have no regrets now,” Mithali had earlier remarked. Mithu literally danced her way to the top of women’s cricket and into the hearts of the lovers of the game.
Though she was pushed a bit in the initial stages, Mithali had taken to the game as a duck takes to water. Once in, there was no prodding needed as she went on to ‘own’ the game. For 23 years, she literally did nothing but play cricket and strode the ground like a colossus. She considers it a privilege. “From making my debut to now, it has been a good two decades of my prime life which has not been at home but at the ground – different countries, hotels, grounds, coaches, travel etc. It’s been a very privileged journey. Honestly, I never planned my career just like I don’t plan my innings,” she had remarked.
It was a single-minded devotion to the game which helped her to be at the top of her cricket. “To follow a habit for more than 20 years is a big thing. I just felt that if I have to play international cricket then I have to be at my optimum best and that is something that I have always believed in and also in consistency. No matter which phase of my career, every game has mattered to me. When walking into bat, I have always looked to perform well,” she had said.
Mithali has hinted that will stay connected with the game. “This journey may have ended but another one beckons as I’d love to stay involved in the game I love and contribute to the growth of women’s cricket in India and world over,” she said in her message.
The younger generation and women’s cricket will benefit with her continued association with the game.
