India’s Mithali Raj becomes all-time leading run-getter in women’s ODIs
NEW DELHI: India captain Mithali Raj scripted history on Wednesday as she became the all-time leading run-getter in women’s one-day internationals.
Mithali, who is leading India at the ICC Women’s World Cup in England, overtook Charlotte Edwards (5992) after scoring her 34th run against Australia in Bristol. The 34-year-old reached the landmark in her 183rd ODI, taking 164 innings – 16 less than Charlotte.
Mithali made her ODI debut against Ireland in June 1999, scoring a match-winning century boasts a 50 plus average. Starting from February 7, 2017, she hit seven consecutive half-centuries – a hot streak that ended when she fell for 46 against West Indies in Taunton at the ongoing world cup.
Incidentally, it’s an Indian bowler Jhulan Goswami, with 189 wickets, who is the all-time leading wicket-taker in women’s ODIs.
Mithali, who bats at no 3, recently grabbed headlines when she was filmed reading a book as she waited for her turn to bat during a couple of matches in the ongoing tournament.
At a pre-tournament interaction, Mithali drew praises from all quarters when she succinctly shot down a sexist question from a reporter. She was asked about her favourite male cricketer to which her answer was, “Do you ask the same question to a male cricketer? Do you ask them who their favourite female cricketer is? I have always been asked who’s your favourite cricketer but you should ask them who their favourite female cricketer is.”
So far, Mithali has scored 6028 runs with the help of five centuries and 49 half-centuries.
