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- 43 yrs
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Mithali Raj is a former captain of the India women’s cricket team and the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket. Over a 23-year career she led India to the 2005 and 2017 World Cup finals and helped transform the profile of the women’s game in India.
Biography
Early life
Mithali Raj was born in Jodhpur and raised in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, where her father, a former Indian Air Force officer, encouraged her to play cricket. She also trained in Bharatanatyam as a child before choosing cricket. She played for India at 16.
Career
Raised in Hyderabad, Raj trained in Bharatanatyam before focusing on cricket. She scored a century on her ODI debut in 1999, aged 16, and in 2002 made 214 against England, then the highest score in women’s Test cricket.
Captain and record-breaker
She captained India to the final of the 2005 World Cup and again in 2017, when a near-miss against England at Lord’s drew record television audiences in India. She became the first woman to pass 6,000 and then 7,000 ODI runs, retiring in 2022 with 7,805 — the most in women’s ODIs. Her life inspired the film Shabaash Mithu (2022).
Transforming the women’s game
Raj was India’s captain in Tests and ODIs for many years and led the side to the World Cup finals of 2005 and 2017. The 2017 campaign, which ended in a nine-run defeat to England at Lord’s, was watched by record audiences and is widely seen as a turning point for women’s cricket in India. She was the first player, male or female, to score seven consecutive ODI fifties and was the first woman to reach 6,000 ODI runs.
After retirement
Since retiring in 2022 Raj has worked as a mentor and adviser in women’s cricket, including with the Women’s Premier League franchise Gujarat Giants, and as a commentator. She continues to campaign for more investment in women’s cricket, including equal match fees, which the BCCI introduced for men and women in 2022.
Timeline
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1982
Born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
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1999
ODI debut
Scores a century, aged 16.
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2002
214 against England at Taunton
Then the highest score in women’s Tests.
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2003
Arjuna Award
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2005
Captains India in the World Cup final
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2015
Padma Shri
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2017
Second World Cup final as captain
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2017
Becomes the leading run-scorer in women’s ODIs
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2021
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna
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2022
Retires
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2022
Shabaash Mithu released
Taapsee Pannu plays her.
Awards and honours
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Arjuna Award
2003
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Padma Shri
2015
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Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna
2021
Did you know?
-
1
She trained in Bharatanatyam before focusing on cricket.
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2
Her international career lasted 23 years, a record in women’s cricket.
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3
Taapsee Pannu played her in the 2022 biopic Shabaash Mithu.
Gallery
Connections
Also born on 3 December
Frequently asked
Who is Mithali Raj?
Mithali Raj is a former captain of the India women’s cricket team and the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket. Over a 23-year career she led India to the 2005 and 2017 World Cup finals and helped transform the profile of the women’s game in India.
How old is Mithali Raj?
Mithali Raj is 43 years old, born on 3 December 1982 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Where is Mithali Raj from?
Mithali Raj was born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
What is Mithali Raj known for?
Mithali Raj is best known for Most runs in women’s ODI cricket; captaining India to two World Cup finals.
What awards has Mithali Raj received?
Notable honours include Arjuna Award (2003), Padma Shri (2015), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2021).
References
- Mithali Raj — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Mithali Raj — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Mithali Raj — ESPNcricinfo player profile. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Mithali Raj — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Mithali Raj (Q3520476) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editors; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal
- First published 26 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Mithali Raj.” TrackFame, last updated 27 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/mithali-raj
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