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Taapsee Pannu wraps filming for Mithali Raj's biography 'Shabaash Mithu'
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
Tapsee Pannu's upcoming film Shabaash Mithu is set to delight her fans -
With the Indian Premier League’s resumption in complete uncertainty, the Indian cricket team, both the male and the female contingents, now look forward to a couple of bilateral series coming their way, all of which will be taking place on foreign soil. The Women in Blue are expected to tour England next month in order to play their first red-ball match in over seven years, with a limited overs series to follow. View this post on InstagramOn the other hand, the Men in Blue will be on their way to the United Kingdom in order to play in the World Test Championship clash against Kane Williamson’s New Zealand squad, followed by a Test series against Joe Root and Co. At the moment, the two sides are in quarantine in Mumbai, before they finally fly off on June 2. View this post on InstagramDuring the past couple of weeks, reports of the Board of Control for Cricket in India treating their male and female rosters differently have been making the news, especially with regard to the two sides’ travel arrangements. According to media reports, the BCCI had arranged for a personal charter plane to enjoy the safety of their men’s team while travelling to the UK. However, no such arrangements were made for the women’s team and it was believed that they would be made to fly commercially. On Tuesday however, T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur cleared the air on the ongoing speculations of sexism within the Indian cricket board and said that the BCCI had organised charter flights for the ladies as well. The BCCI has organised Charter flights to ferry both men and women players to Mumbai before we leave for the UK. Considering the distance and individual convenience players have made their own choice. — Harmanpreet Kaur (@ImHarmanpreet) May 18, 2021 “The BCCI has organised Charter flights to ferry both men and women players to Mumbai before we leave for the UK. Considering the distance and individual convenience players have made their own choice,” Kaur wrote on Twitter on Tuesday evening. Shortly after, the captain of the ODI roster, Mithali Raj also issued a similar statement from her social media handle: Traveling is a challenge in the pandemic but it is reassuring to see elaborate measures by BCCI for our health and safety. A charter ️ to Mumbai and UK and regular RT-PCR Tests at home. #LetsDoThis — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) May 18, 2021 “Traveling is a challenge in the pandemic but it is reassuring to see elaborate measures by BCCI for our health and safety. A charter Airplane to Mumbai and UK and regular RT-PCR Tests at home. #LetsDoThis,” Raj wrote. Women’s Team for England Tour: Tests And ODIs: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Raut, Priya Punia, Deepti Sharma, Jemima Rodriguez, Shefali Verma, Sneh Rana, Tania Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Indrani Roy (wicketkeeper), Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey , Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht and Radha Yadav. T20Is: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandana (vice-captain), Deepti Sharma, Jemima Rodriguez, Shefali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana, Tania Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Indrani Roy (wicketkeeper), Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Radha Yadav and Simran Dil Bahadur. View the full article
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Mithali Raj: Celebrating The Sheer Genius Of India's Greatest Batswoman
ADMIN posted a blog entry in FDF Online News
Ever since making her international debut in 1999, Mithali Raj has earned the title of India's most dependable batswoman and a great leader on the field. Her knack for scoring crucial runs in crunch situations has consistently aided India across formats. Her vast experience and know-how of the game has also paid great dividends to India on the field. Mithali, one of the most diligent servants of Indian cricket, has played a pivotal role in the rise of the women's game in a country that has, for long, obsessed over their male counterparts. From shutting down sexist reporters to disapproving comparisons between male and female cricketers, the Indian captain (in Tests & ODIs) has helped her teammates in carving their own niche in a sport dominated by men. 🥇 Leading run-scorer in women's ODIs ⭐ Highest run-scorer for 🇮🇳 in women's T20Is Two-time Women's @cricketworldcup finalist Most consecutive fifties in women's ODIs - 7️⃣ Happy birthday to Mithali Raj! ️ Watch her tell her story in this special video from CWC 2017: pic.twitter.com/Sp5QnmyN3s — ICC (@ICC) December 3, 2020 Thus, on 3rd December, as she 38, the cricket fraternity and fans took turns to pour in heartfelt wishes on her birthday. From her teammates, pundits to cricket enthusiasts, everyone took to social media to wish the country's greatest batswoman. On her birthday, we bring you 5 unbelievable records that hint at the genius of this classy Indian cricketer: 1. 21 Years In International Cricket © Twitter/@BCCIWomen Making her debut on 26th June 1999 against Ireland, Mithali has been a rock for Indian cricket, playing through the ages. On September 2019, she called time on her T20I career in a bid to focus on the preparation for the 2021 ODI World Cup. Her commitment towards the game further allowed Mithali to become the first women's cricketer in history to play for over two decades. To sum it up, she is amongst the only cricketers, alongside Shoaib Malik and Harbhajan Singh, from the 90s to still be playing international cricket. 2. Most Runs In Women's ODIs © Twitter/@BCCIWomen A batting stalwart for India, Mithali's wide array of strokes, backed with admirable temperament, saw her scoring runs at will. The right-handed batswoman has 2,364 runs to her name in 89 T20Is and 663 runs in 10 Tests for India. But, it's her stellar show in ODI cricket that really makes her stand apart. In the 209 ODIs she has played, Mithali has amassed 6,888 runs which is the most by any player in the 50-over format of women's cricket. She is also just 112 runs away from becoming the first woman to score 7,000 ODI runs. 3. 53 ODI Fifties © Twitter/@BCCIWomen It is no surprise that Mithali has a special liking towards ODI cricket. Not only has she emerged as the leading run-getter of all-time in the 50-over format, but Mithali also boasts the most number of ODI fifties scored in women's cricket. The right-hander has 53 ODI fifties to her name alongside 7 hundreds. The second spot in the list of most ODI fifties scored in women's cricket is held by England's Charlotte Edwards who has 46 fifties to her name. 4. Youngest Debutant To Score ODI Ton © Twitter/@BCCIWomen While the legend of the Indian sensation is well known, not many are aware of her exploits on debut. Donning the Team India jersey for the very first time, a 16-year-old Mithali walked out in the middle, partnering Reshma Gandhi, to open the innings against Ireland. While many debutants often show the tendency to succumb to the pressure, Mithali showed no signs of nerves, in fact, her unbeaten knock of 114 runs proved that she belonged there. In the process, Mithali also became the youngest female debutant to score an ODI hundred - a record that still stands tall. 5. 7 Consecutive Fifties © Twitter/@BCCIWomen In her illustrious international career, Mithali has shattered numerous records only to create new ones. In 2017, she etched her name in history books yet again for a feat that highlights her consistency with the willow. In what turned out to be a marauding run, the right-hander slammed seven consecutive fifties for India. With her scores reading: 70*, 64, 73*, 51*, 54, 62* and 71 in seven successive matches, Mithali became the first woman cricketer to achieve the feat which has not been matched by any Indian male or female cricketer. Rahul Dravid's five consecutive ODI fifties come the closest in Indian cricket. View the full article -
Biopics and Bollywood go hand in hand, and the entrainment industry is actually responsible for churning out some fabulously made films which tell the untold story of some of the famous names in the country. Talking about sports-based movies, films like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Mary Kom And MS Dhoni are some of the best movies out there based on famous sports personalities. Talking about the next year and what new movies are in the pipeline, actress Taapsee Pannu has now been roped in to play the lead role in Mithali Raj's biopic which will be titled Shabaash Mithu. View this post on Instagram Happy Happy Birthday Captain @mithaliraj ! You have made all of us proud in more than many ways and it's truly an honour to be chosen to showcase your journey on screen. On this Birthday of yours I don't know what gift I can give you but this promise that I shall give it all I have to make sure you will be proud of what you see of yourself on screen with #ShabaashMithu P.S- I am all prepared to learn THE 'cover drive' ð #HappyBirthdayCaptain A post shared by Taapsee Pannu (@taapsee) on Dec 2, 2019 at 7:14pm PST The news was shared by Taapsee herself as she celebrated the former captain of Indian Women's cricket team's birthday earlier this morning. Mithali Raj has led the team with sheer brilliance and managed a successful career which spans across 20 years. Her illustrious career is a prime example for not just the women of this country but the entire youth looking for a role model. View this post on Instagram Wore this gorgeous outfit by @rohitgandhirahulkhanna for the Aware Foundation Cricket Legends' Gala Dinner in London. Styled by @kajribohra A post shared by Mithali Raj (@mithaliraj) on Jun 14, 2019 at 8:36am PDT Interestingly, this will be the third biopic Taapsee will be working on. She was earlier seen in Saand Ki Aankh with Bhumi Pednekar which got raving reviews for their fantastic performance. Taapsee will also bee seen playing the role of an athlete Rashmi from Gujarat and her look for Rocket Rashmi was shared earlier this year. View this post on Instagram Fierce, strong-headed and unstoppable, meet #RashmiRocket! @akvarious #RonnieScrewvala @RSVPMovies @iammangopeople @nehaanand21 @pranjalnk A post shared by Taapsee Pannu (@taapsee) on Aug 30, 2019 at 1:51am PDT The movie is all set to begin shooting soon and we cannot wait to see the actress tell the interesting story of our cricket hero Mithali Raj. View the full article
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At a tender age of 19, Mithali Raj had emerged as India's one of the most capable batswomen with a staggering 214 against England in the final Test at Taunton back in 2002. Since that day, the right-hander, over the years, has not only become a vital cog for the Indian batting line-up, but is also one of the biggest names in international cricket. But, for someone whose artistry with the willow saw her shatter one record after another, Mithali's exploits aren't just restricted to the field. One of the most diligent servants of Indian cricket, Mithali has played a pivotal role in the rise of the women's game in a country that has, for long, obsessed over their male counterparts. © Reuters From shutting down sexist reporters to disapproving comparisons between male and female cricketers, the Indian Captain (in Tests & ODIs) has helped her teammates in carving their own niche in a sport dominated by men. And, her unique personality off the field is what makes her a fan-favourite. After her leadership skills saw India registering a 3-0 whitewash of the touring South African brigade in the three-match ODI series earlier this week, Mithali's capabilities of shutting social media trolls like a boss, once again, came to the fore. It feels nice to be acknowledged by a person who I have looked up to all my life .. thank you champion ð. https://t.co/8BNwW2xf6j — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) October 15, 2019 Becoming the first ever woman to complete 20 years in international cricket recently, Mithali attracted plaudits from every corner of the globe. Amongst the praise, Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar, too, congratulated the Indian Captain for her unique feat. In response, the 36-year-old wrote, "It feels nice to be acknowledged by a person who I have looked up to all my life..thank you champion". தமிழ௠à®à®©à¯ தாய௠மà¯à®´à®¿.. நான௠தமிழ௠நனà¯à®±à®¾à® பà¯à®à¯à®µà¯à®©à¯.. தமிழனாய௠வாழà¯à®µà®¤à¯ à®à®©à®à¯à®à¯ பà¯à®°à¯à®®à¯.. but above it all I am very proud indian ! Also my dear sugu ,you constant criticism on each and every post of mine ,you day to day advice on how and what should I do is exactly what keeps me going https://t.co/udOqOO2ejx — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) October 15, 2019 But, while everyone was cherishing the exchange between two batting greats, a troll questioned her language preference by tweeting, "She doesn't know Tamil. She will speak in eng, Telugu, Hindi". To which, Mithali responded with a tweet partially written in Tamil. "but above it all I am very proud indian ! Also my dear sugu ,you constant criticism on each and every post of mine ,you day to day advice on how and what should I do is exactly what keeps me going," she tweeted. Also, I would like to dedicate @vasugi29 a very famous song by a strong independent woman I admire a lot . Enjoy :) https://t.co/o34CtfCZCB — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) October 15, 2019 Her response would've probably made the poor troll question his tweet, but Mithali didn't stop there. In fact, taking the troll to the task and shutting him up for good, the Indian batswoman dedicated Taylor Swift's popular song, 'You Need To Calm Down', to him. We aren't sure how the troll must have felt, but Mithali's fans surely loved her epic response. ðð»ðð» pic.twitter.com/51bVuLnIfy — Vivid ðï¸ðï¸ Eyed (@G_____Ram_____G) October 15, 2019 We are proud of you. Keep going.ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ — SKTweet (@SKTweet10) October 16, 2019 Well said Mithali. You are a pride of the nation. — garima srivastav (@gsgarima36) October 15, 2019 Now that's a fitting reply Dear!!⤠A Bossð both on n off the field. More power to you my idol @M_Raj03 ma'am!!ð pic.twitter.com/JRQ9CTwHOf — Ritwika Dhar (@RituD307) October 15, 2019 I didn't understand a single word written in tamil but i understand your game..your captaincy. I feel the words whatever it may say. We all love you. ð — Kp sinha #happybdayVK (@kpsinha7) October 15, 2019 This will shut many talkings... Be like you legend. We're proud of you and the way you respond criticism ð Indian ð¥ and தமிழன௠𪠗 Sudeswaran Gandhi (@sudeshsudhi) October 15, 2019
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Record-Breaking Mithali Raj Finds A New Fan In Shikhar Dhawan's Son Zoravar
ADMIN posted a blog entry in FDF Online News
Seventeen years ago, a 19-year-old girl broke into the Indian women's Test side and a few months after her debut in the longest format, she gave everyone a glimpse of her capabilities with a staggering knock of 214 runs against England in Taunton. A lot of time has passed by since then, but the legend of Mithali Raj continues to grow. Ever since making her international debut in 1999, Mithali has established herself as India's most dependable batswoman, scoring runs in crunch situations and shattering one record after another. Apart from amassing runs for her side, Mithali is also bestowed with the responsibility of grooming young and upcoming members of Indian women's team. © Reuters One of the most diligent servants of Indian cricket, Mithali has played a pivotal role in the rise of the women's game in a country that has, for long, obsessed over their male counterparts. From shutting down sexist reporters to disapproving comparisons between male and female cricketers, the Indian captain (in Tests & ODIs) has helped her teammates in carving their own niche in a sport dominated by men. And, the fact that she recently became the first female cricketer to play 200 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in the history of the sport, further decorated her illustrious career. For a cricketer of her repute, it's not really surprising to see Mithali enjoy unmatched popularity and fan-following. But, the Indian star looked elated after winning the heart of a youngster who became the latest addition to her long list of fans. View this post on Instagram @mithaliraj has a little fan #zoraverdhawan! One of my favourite pics and we always supporting the Women's Indian Cricket Team!!!!! #lovethispic #womenscricket #fan A post shared by Aesha Dhawan (@aesha.dhawan5) on Jan 30, 2019 at 4:27pm PST The 36-year-old, who is currently in New Zealand for their limited-overs series, seems to have found a fan in Shikhar Dhawan's son Zoravar. The experienced campaigner was snapped alongside her latest fan who was equally happy to meet his idol. Dhawan's wife Ayesha shared their photograph on Instagram with a caption that read: "@mithaliraj has a little fan #zoraverdhawan! One of my favourite pics and we always supporting the Women's Indian Cricket Team!!!!! #lovethispic#womenscricket #fan". After playing her part in India's 2-1 triumph in the recently-concluded ODI series, Mithali will now be eager to cater to her team's needs when they take on New Zealand in the three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series, slated to begin from 6th February in Wellington. -
As Mithali Raj walked today into the Seddon Park for the toss as the captain of the Indian cricket team ahead of the third ODI in Hamilton, she created history once again, becoming the first woman to play 200 ODIs. Adding another feat to an already decorated career, Raj's spot in the ICC Hall of Fame is a no-brainer. What's your favourite memory of @M_Raj03'S ODI career? pic.twitter.com/h7HGFJfWYv — ICC (@ICC) February 1, 2019 At the age of 36, if she was asked what career-path would she want to pursue, she would certainly choose that of a cricketer, but a 9-year-old Raj would have said that she wanted to pursue a career in dance. Unlike a lot of aspiring cricketers, Mithali Raj was never one to have sleepless nights fantasizing about donning that blue kit and representing India on an international level. In fact, as a child, Raj had no plans to join the sport which is so famously known as a 'gentleman's game'. The skipper has made it absolutely clear that the only reason she took to cricket was because her father, Dorai Raj forced her to play cricket just because she was extremely lazy and her dad wanted her to be more active, which had no impact on her lifestyle whatsoever as she continues to be equally lazy (her words, not ours). “My dad made a decision to turn me into a professional cricketer. The hours of training sessions and the performance in the game… these are the things that started too early for me as an 11-year-old,” Raj shares in an interview with the ICC. “At that phase when I started putting so many hours in the game, I really realised that… I have stopped enjoying the game and at some point, I hated my dad for putting me into the sport.” Ever since she made her ODI debut on 25th June 1995, she's had multiple spells as the captain of the Indian women's cricket team, the first one coming just before the 2005 World Cup. The young batswoman was nervous to shoulder the responsibility one because it was during the biggest tournament of all and two, because a lot of senior players and even an ex-captain was in the team, which now belonged to her. But that was probably the only instance Mithali truly shook in her boots. With a résumé with 20 years-worth of experience, the Indian skipper has no more jitters to confront. While most players indulge in boosting their morale before going out to bat, the veteran can be calmly reading a book with her kit on. “I am the senior-most player in the team. I am a more mature leader and I have no apprehensions any more,” she said in an interview with the Times of India. © ICC Mithali Raj is probably one of the wisest sportspersons of our generation who, despite facing so much of criticism as a player, a teammate, and even for just being herself, continues to do her thing without caring about what the world has to say. She has turned something that she used to completely despise, into something which helped her make a mark for herself and become one of best, and that is something every young athlete must try and imbibe.
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Mithali Raj is a great player. She has a Test double hundred, more ODI runs than any player in history, and more than 200 international caps for India. She was left out of India’s eleven for their semi final in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. India lost that game. A player of Raj’s ability being dropped in such an important is unusual but not unheard of. Anil Kumble was left out of the eleven at the 2003 World Cup final. At the time, Kumble of one of only two Indian bowlers who have more than 300 limited overs wickets and had been the mainstay of India’s limited overs attack in the previous decade. Matters exploded spectacularly after Raj wrote to the BCCI CEO and Cricket Operations General Manager (and former India wicketkeeper) Saba Karim to complain about being left out. Her letter to the BCCI is essentially a complaint against two individuals - Diana Edulji and Ramesh Powar. Her first complaint against Powar is that he changed the batting order and asked her to bat in the middle order. Mithali Raj found this unsuitable. Her second complaint against him is that he dropped her from the eleven for the semi final. She writes that she went to the team manager because she didn’t like what the head coach was saying. In the letter, Raj casts the decision to drop her as the coach’s decision. The Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has also written to the BCCI and flatly contradicts Raj's characterization of the decision as one made by the coach. The Indian Vice-Captain Smriti Mandhana has also written to the BCCI and agrees with the captain. She writes that all playing elevens were selected using the same procedure. Raj's complaints against the head coach and her disappointment at being dropped is understandable. The team management is perfectly within its rights to decide things like the batting order. Besides, given that Raj went to the team manager to ask her to referee her dispute with the head coach, its hardly surprising that the head coach and the team manager agreed with the captain and vice-captain that she should be left out of the eleven. If she was required in the middle-order and didn't bat want to bat in the middle-order, it's best for everybody if she didn't play at all. In any event, based on Raj's accounts and the accounts of others, its clear that this was a cricketing matter, and no matter what you might think of the merits of the decision, the legitimacy of the decision is not in question. It is more than a little bit surprising that a player of Raj's excellence and experience should let her disappointment get the better of her in this way. Raj's complaint against Edulji seemed puzzling from the beginning. It appears in the first part of the letter, before the case against the head coach is laid out. The idea that a member of the CoA or the CoA should interfere with who gets picked in the eleven from the squad is as preposterous as asking Jagmohan Dalmiya to get involved in such a dispute. Edulji rightly took the view that the CoA wouldn't get involved in team selection. Tushar Arothe, Ramesh Powar's predecessor as head coach, has added his voice to Raj's. His intervention is bizarre because he suggests that Edulji interfered with the team selection at the Asia Cup because, after the tournament ended, she inquired into the selection decisions made by the team management. It is not unusual for former players to express opinions about team selection even though they may be office holders at BCCI. Sourav Ganguly played over a hundred Tests for India and captained India. He is currently the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal which is a member association of the BCCI. He often comments on the selection and performance of men's team. It would be very surprising if he didn't offer his opinion to the players and the selectors in private as well. But this does not mean that the Cricket Association of Bengal is interfering with selection. Mithali Raj has written to the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri (Her letter is addressed to "Rahul Sir and Saba) complaining about Diana Edulji only a few days after Edulji disagreed with the CoA chairman Vinod Rai's decision to keep Johri in his job following an inquiry into allegations of improper behaviour against Johri by a BCCI employee. The committee which inquired into the allegations against Johri did not return a unanimous verdict. One of the three members dissented, and accused the BCCI and CoA of not following the law (specifically, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013). At the CoA, the chairman Vinod Rai is accused of suppressing the dissenting voice in the inquiry committee and ignoring Edulji's opposition to grant Johri a "clean chit". Apart from the fact that Raj's complaint against Edulji is substantively feeble, it is remarkable that she has written to the BCCI's CEO to complain about a member of the CoA, who's job is to supervise the CEO. It is an incredible coincidence that Johri should receive a written complaint against Edulji a a few days after Edulji opposed Johri's reinstatement following an inquiry which did not unanimously exonerate him. If Raj was advised by her advisors to complain in writing, then she was advised poorly. If any part of this advice came from Johri, this would be obviously inappropriate. Did Johri (directly or indirectly) advise Mithali Raj to put her complaints against Diana Edulji in writing? Only Mithali Raj and Rahul Johri can answer this question. Note that Raj's letter appeared in public on November 27. It was reported that she met the BCCI CEO and General Manager on November 26. At first Raj's letter seemed to be an ill-judged expression of disappointment. Now that subsequent communications by the head coach, captain and vice-captain have been made public, it looks worse than ill-judged. It is very sad that a great player has allowed herself to be put in such a terrible position where in she has been contradicted by her head coach and her colleagues. It would be even sadder if her obvious disappointment has been exploited in a larger political power struggle at the BCCI.
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For a team that remained unbeaten in the group stage, the Indian women's cricket team undoubtedly left their fans disheartened after producing a mediocre performance in the all-important semifinals against England at the ICC World Cup in West Indies. While the tournament has come to an end with Australia clinching the coveted trophy, the troubles of Indian women's cricket seem far from over. Right after the tournament, Mithali Raj, India's senior-most women's cricketer, opened a can of worms by accusing coach Ramesh Powar of humiliating and embarrassing her during their stay in the Caribbean. She also claimed that her exclusion from the semis clash against England, that saw India losing the game by eight wickets after being bundled out for just 112 runs, was "baffling and hurtful" and that her main issue was with the coach who was indifferent to her in the lead up to the match in Antigua. Apart from coach Powar, Mithali also accused BCCI's CoA (Committee of Administrators) member Diana Edulji of ignoring her ordeal despite knowing everything. The 35-year-old claimed that Edulji used her position against her and made her feel vulnerable. If Mithali's allegations stirred up a storm, coach Powar's response further added to the controversy, instigating strong reactions all around. © BCCL In a 10-page tour report submitted to the BCCI, Powar gave nearly a five-page assessment of India's leading run-getter in T20Is. He claimed that Mithali threatened to leave the tournament midway at being dropped from the opening slot despite being duly consulted before the move. He also accused her of chasing personal milestones while ignoring the team's cause. "I was saddened by her attitude and it gave me an impression that Mithali Raj comes first and then India. She threw a lot of tantrums and created a lot of chaos," Powar stated in his report. “I hope Mithali Raj stops blackmailing, pressurising coaches and also stops putting her interest first than team's. I hope she will look at the bigger picture & work towards betterment of the Indian women's cricket,” he added further. I'm deeply saddened & hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game & 20yrs of playing for my country.The hard work, sweat, in vain. Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned & all the mud slinging- it's the darkest day of my life. May god give strength — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) November 29, 2018 In response to coach Powar's assessment of her, Mithali penned a touching note on her official Twitter handle. "I'm deeply saddened & hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game & 20yrs of playing for my country. The hard work, sweat, in vain. Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned & all the mud slinging- it's the darkest day of my life. May god give strength," she tweeted. Mithali's emotional tweet evoked strong reactions on the micro-blogging website. In fact, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar rallied behind her before lauding the batswoman's illustrious career. “I feel sorry for Mithali. She has a very good point. She has served Indian cricket for 20 years. She scored runs, she won player of the match in both matches (she played at the World T20),” Gavaskar told India Today. “She was injured for one game but fit for the next game. Just convert this situation into the men's game. If you had a Virat Kohli who was injured for one game and then is fit for the knockout, will you leave him out? You have to pick your best player for the knockouts. You needed the experience and expertise of Mithali Raj,” Gavaskar said. Apart from Gavaskar, Indian cricket fans, too, backed the senior cricketer during the "darkest day" of her life. Chin up Mithali..You r fighter. After Pakistan women team Cricket matches,I often watch India women team cricket and I have been watching you since long playing outstanding cricket for India and having great skills. This tough time will be gone. Stay strong. Respect frm Pakistan — Dr.M.Tahir (@dr_tahiryousuf) November 29, 2018 This is nothing new in @BCCIWomen @BCCI_Women @BCCI many Legends have been doubted. You stand tall amidst all these in people's heart. Stay Positive.. May god give strength — Kishore B R (@kingofgudtimes) November 29, 2018 Who said that your patriotism doubted, We all are with you.... à¤à¥ लà¥à¤ doubt à¤à¤° रहॠहà¥à¤, à¤à¤¨à¤à¥ लिठयॠलाà¤à¤¨ :- ..................दà¥à¤à¤¨à¤¾ हॠà¤à¤¼à¥à¤° à¤à¤¿à¤¤à¤¨à¤¾ बाà¤à¥-à¤-à¤à¤¦à¥à¤¦à¤¾à¤° मà¥à¤ हà¥à¥¤ — Kapil Bidiyasar (@BidiyasarK) November 29, 2018 More power to you, Mithali. You are a champion and our support is right up there for you. Looking forward to see you on field with yet another match winning performanceð — harionaroll (@harionaroll) November 29, 2018 Champ !! Yu are too good for this shitty coach and others you had to deal with , this comes from a pakistani , May Almighty gives you the strength to deal with all this , blessings ð — Ammar Khalid (@AmmarKh444) November 29, 2018 How to break a person everyone knows. It's your turn to prove how a person can come back. #BeRoleModel #GoGirl — Senthil Prabhu (@senthilprabhumk) November 29, 2018 Mithali,every Indian who has watched you play and grow into a fine sportsperson and captain a much neglected team with unquestionable dedication...believes in you,your calibre and intent. Fire on girl,let not those that have not played your kinda' calibre, thwart you !@BCCI — Radhika S. Nair (@bacwaters) November 29, 2018 While the BCCI is yet to act in the ever-growing controversy, Powar's tenure as the Indian women's cricket's interim coach will come to an end on 30th November. While he will be eligible to apply for the post again when fresh applications are invited, there is a very small chance that he will be retained in the same role, as his player management skills have come under scanner due to the ongoing controversy.
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Women's cricket, for long, has been seen lurking in the shadows of the men's game. From disparity in pay structure to comparatively lower fanfare, the women's game desperately needed the help of fans and cricket administrations to carve their own niche in a sport which is generally dominated by men. But, the times are changing, as female cricketers are getting their due and noticeable developments have aided women's cricket. The biggest boost was arguably the standalone ICC World T20 in the West Indies. For the very first time in history, women's cricket had their standalone ICC showpiece event that was not a precursor to a men's tournament. While all the teams seemed hell bent on making a mark in the historic tournament, the Indian women's cricket team, early in the tournament, established themselves as one of the favourites. Owing to their marauding run, Harmanpreet Kaur-led India went past one opponent after another, establishing themselves as a big threat to their rivals. © BCCL But, the tournament didn't really pan out the way Harmanpreet's girls or their fans would have expected. Despite their unbeaten run which included a convincing win over eventual champions Australia, the Indian team stuttered against England in the semifinals before taking the long flight back home. Amidst multiple shortcomings in the semifinals, the Indian cricket team undoubtedly missed the experience of a veteran campaigner like Mithali Raj, whose exclusion from the playing XI had left former Indian cricketers confused and fans baffled. The 35-year-old could have proved crucial for India who eventually bundled out for just 112 runs in their humiliating eight-wicket loss in the semifinals. Though many questioned India's tactics to ignore Mithali for the semis, no one really got to know the real reason behind the controversial move, until now. Opening a can of worms, the record-breaking batswoman finally broke her silence on the issue and disclosed what is rapidly turning into one of the biggest scandals in Indian women's cricket. © BCCL The right-hander has alleged that coach Ramesh Powar humiliated her and discriminated her during the recently-concluded World Cup in the Caribbean. According to a letter sent by Mithali to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and general manager Saba Karim, Mithali stated that her exclusion from the semifinal match against England was "baffling and hurtful" and that her main issue was with the coach who was indifferent to her in the lead up to the match in Antigua. "My issues with the coach started immediately as we landed in the West Indies. At first there were small signs that his behaviour towards me was unfair and discriminatory but I did not bother much about it," Mithali wrote in the letter. She alleged that despite adhering to some of the decisions taken by Powar in the interest of the team - like batting out of her usual opening position and delivering with back-to-back fifties when asked to return to her preferred slot - the coach's indifference to her caused her a lot of stress. "Not having played middle order in recent times and without practice still, I agreed for the greater cause of the team. For me team comes ahead of anything. After the game, it was evident that the opening did not work as the team was 3/38 after power-play and yet in the team meeting the next day he informed me that we are going with the same opening pair as against New Zealand. And he also praised the openers despite them not succeeding," she claimed. © BCCL "This left me completely shocked as against Pakistan there was no requirement of strengthening the middle order and also I have a great record against them. This was a match we had to win. I immediately reached out to the selectors and upon their intervention, he told me just before the game at breakfast that I was opening," Mithali said. "I performed well in the game and we cruised to victory. But instead of saying any words of encouragement it appeared he was out there to prove a point and from there on his behaviour changed dramatically towards me and really caused a lot of stress in the middle of one of the most important tournaments for us," she added. Mithali further alleged that Powar ignored and avoided her during net sessions which left her embarrassed and humiliated. Mithali also claims that she sought the team manager's help to facilitate a meeting with Powar to air her concerns and offer her suggestions. But things took a nasty turn after she was asked not to turn up to the ground for the game against Australia in the group stage. © BCCL "In the evening after the team meeting before the Australia game, Ramesh rings up in my room and instructs me not to come to the ground as the media will be there. I was told I was not to be with my own team in one of our biggest games. I was shell shocked. I spoke to the manager immediately and told her that I am not seriously injured and only seriously sick, and that I want to come and watch my team play. She agreed and told me to come," she revealed. "But I received a text from Ramesh in a few minutes after my conversation with the manager wherein he told me not to step out of the dressing room. I found it strange why is he getting involved when it was purely the managers' and physio's call. When we won the Australia game, Ramesh sent a word across with a team mate to call me down to the dugout so that I can join the team for a victory lap. It was strange because right through the match I had been put under house arrest and was never allowed to leave the dressing room," Mithali disclosed in the letter. After being dropped from the semis, Mithali claimed that she was further humiliated by the coach during the innings break. "Also, when the team was getting ready to field in the second innings, it is customary that even those who aren't playing should join the team huddle as it has always been the norm in our team. But to insult me that day, he sent a word through the manager to tell that it was only the playing eleven that can join in the huddle and the rest can go back to the dugout making us feel as outcasts. It was worrying and insulting because the coach was out to destroy and humiliate me," she said. © BCCL Apart from coach Powar, Mithali was also all guns blazing against BCCI's CoA (Committee of Administrators) member Diana Edulji and accused her of ignoring her ordeal. "Her brazen support in the press with regard to the decision of my benching in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup has left me deeply distressed, more because she knows the real facts having spoken to me. Thereafter her statement saying 'selection is not the COA's headache' is like suggesting there is no system of cheques (sic) and balances and anyone can do anything and get away because they have the backing of people in power," Mithali claimed. Speaking about India's T20I captain Harmanpreet, Mithali said: "I would also like to point out that I have nothing against the T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur except for the fact that her call to support the decision of the coach to leave me out of the eleven was baffling and hurtful". The shocking revelations by Mithali, one of the most respected cricketers in India, has undoubtedly left everyone bemused. While it's still too early to draw conclusions on the latest controversy, the whole episode is surely the last thing Indian women's cricket, which is finally evolving and finding its place in the man's world, needed.
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Sixteen years ago, a 19-year-old girl broke into the Indian women's Test side and a few months after her debut in the longest format she gave everyone a glimpse of her capabilities with a staggering knock of 214 runs against England in Taunton. A lot of time has passed by since then, but the legend of Mithali Raj continues to grow in international cricket. Ever since making her international debut in 1999, Mithali has established herself as India's most dependable batswoman, scoring runs in crunch situations and shattering one record after another. She is the highest run-getter in women's international cricket and the only female cricketer to surpass the 6,000-run mark in women's ODIs. As she turns 36 next month, Mithali now boasts of numerous records in international cricket. And, even if her role (other than aiding India with the willow and her leadership skills) has now transcended into grooming young and upcoming members of her team, there is just no stopping this workhorse. © Twitter/@ICC One of the most diligent servants of Indian cricket, Mithali has played a pivotal role in the rise of the women's game in a country that has, for long, obsessed over their male counterparts. From shutting down sexist reporters to disapproving comparisons between male and female cricketers, the Indian captain (in Tests & ODIs) has helped her teammates in carving their own niche in a sport dominated by men. The right-hander would have surely cherished every milestone she has attained in her illustrious career so far, but her latest feat is undoubtedly the one that is going to remain close to her heart and stay for long in the memories of Indian cricket fans. For those who thought that women's game lacked adequate level of competition owing to the limited agility of female cricketers, Mithali's recent milestone seems to be an apt reminder of what they are capable of. Plying her trade in the ongoing ICC World T20, Mithali didn't get an opportunity to bat amid Harmanpreet Kaur's spectacle with the willow. But the right-hander came into her own, smashing a brilliant fifty in the next game against Pakistan. India's clash against Ireland, once again, saw Mithali rising to the occasion with another fifty to her name. While her 51-run knock helped India beat the Laura Delany-led team and secure their semifinals berth, it also allowed the seasoned campaigner to notch up arguably one of the most influential milestones of her career. Mithali Raj tops an illustrious list of India's most prolific T20I run-scorers ðªð®ð³ 1ï¸â£ @M_Raj03 2ï¸â£ @ImRo45 3ï¸â£ @imVkohli 4ï¸â£ @ImHarmanpreet 5ï¸â£ @ImRaina 6ï¸â£ @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/SmQt9LjLzu — ICC (@ICC) November 15, 2018 As India reached the semifinals of the Women's World T20 for only the third time (and first since 2010), the Rajasthan-born cricketer continued to lead the list of top run-getters for her country (including men and women) in T20Is. Mithali, now, boasts of 2,283 runs in the shortest format for India, leaving behind the likes of country's more popular cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the coveted list. While Mithali scored those many runs in 80 T20I innings, Rohit, currently placed second in that list, could only manage 2,207 in as many innings. Virat, who is currently India's third-highest run-scorer in the shorter version, has amassed 2,102 runs in 58 innings. The fourth spot has been occupied by Harmanpreet who has 1,827 runs to her name in 91 T20I innings. India's record run-scorer in T20Is, @M_Raj03, was on top form again with a half-century to help her side into the @WorldT20 semi-finals! Watch the highlights of her innings, delivered by @oppo #FlashCharge! â¡ï¸#WT20 #WatchThis pic.twitter.com/A4Tkj9BPJR — ICC (@ICC) November 16, 2018 Mithali's fifty against Ireland also saw her going past New Zealand's Martin Guptill who is the highest run-getter in T20I in the men's game. When it comes to top-scorers in T20Is overall, Mithali is only behind Suzie Bates (2,961), Stafanie Taylor (2,691) and Charlotte Edwards (2,605). © Twitter/@WorldT20 The same innings allowed the veteran Indian star to notch up 17th T20I fifty which also saw her going past Bates, Alyssa Healy and Pakistan's Babar Azam to record the most 50-plus scores in a calendar year combining both men's and women's cricketers. A cricketer, whether male or female, notching up a milestone is nothing new in the modern era of the sport. But, at a time when the women's game, after toiling away in obscurity for generations, is taking huge strides to change the dynamics of how people perceive it, Mithali's latest feat is more than just a milestone, it's a stark reminder of how far these wonder women have come, giving the celebrated male cricketers a run for their money. And, if that doesn't get them the respect and praise they deserve, probably nothing will.
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Mithali Raj Becomes The First Ever Indian Cricketer To Score 2000 Runs In T20Is
ADMIN posted a blog entry in FDF Online News
One of India's most talented cricketers and a major role model for our generation, Mithali Raj has unlocked an achievement that has not been touched by any Indian cricketer before. She now holds the record of being the first Indian cricketer to score 2000 runs in a T20I tournament. Congratulations to @M_Raj03. She becomes the first Indian woman to score 2000 runs in T20 Internationals. #INDvSL #ACC #WAC2018 pic.twitter.com/9Cl3buCGeF — BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 7, 2018 The Indian ODI captain's record was made during the Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur. With 14 centuries and an average of 38.1, she has managed to score 2015 runs in 74 T20I matches. After losing the previous match to Bangladesh, India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets. Before Mithali, only a handful of female cricketers have been able to achieve this feat, including Charlotte Edwards (2,605), followed by Stafanie Taylor (2,582) and Suzie Bates (2,515). Among the male cricketers, Martin Guptill (2271) followed by Brendon McCullum (2140) and Virat Kohli (1983 lead the pack. © Twitter Congratulations have been pouring in for Mithali from every corner of the world for her historic achievement. The first Indian cricketer to have scored 2000 runs in T20 International cricket, very proud of you Mithali Raj! @M_Raj03 — Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) June 7, 2018 T 2830 - Mithali Raj @M_Raj03 becomes the first Indian woman to score 2000 T20 International Cricket runs .. many congratulations and greater glory to you .. was with me on a KBC show , quiet , humble and dignified !! pic.twitter.com/vvNpLZCWay — Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) June 7, 2018 Women's Asia Cup: Mithali Raj Becomes First Indian Woman to Reach 2000 T20I Runs Congratulations @M_Raj03. Proud of you. pic.twitter.com/nDcHfMH0xQ — Jagrati Shukla (@JagratiShukla29) June 7, 2018 Mithali Raj became the First woman to score 2000 runs in T20 First woman to score 6000 runs in Women's ODIs Also holds the record for scoring 7 consecutive 50+ runs in WODIs Consistent run machine since 1999 True champion ðª#MithaliRaj #Inspiration @M_Raj03 pic.twitter.com/wzUkoPkpEJ — â¤PRIYA⤠(@rkblovejkrpriya) June 7, 2018 As a nation, we are super proud of her and the exemplary performance that she has shown. -
Busy promoting his upcoming movie 'The Secret Superstar', Bollywood actor Aamir Khan made his way to the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Hyderabad to witness the Indian cricket team battle it out with Australia in the third and final T20 International on 13 October. With the three-match series locked at 1-1, the third match was expected to be a scintillating affair between India and Australia, both eager to finish the tour on a high. But, to everyone's disappointment, the match was eventually called off due to the wet outfield at the stadium and the top honours shared by both the teams. On my way to the stadium to watch the finals today in Hyderabad. Most excited and looking forward to a great game :-) . Buck up India !!! — Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) October 13, 2017 While Aamir surely missed out on the game - just like other fans, he found some consolation in an interview by cricket anchor Jatin Sapru and former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag early on. Accompanied by his co-actress Zaira Wasim, Aamir spoke about his forthcoming film, Indian cricketers and the potential outcome of the match. When asked which Indian cricketer's style he follows, Aamir quickly responded: "It's definitely Virat Kohli". It was great meeting you @aamir_khan bhai..All the very best for #SecretSuperstar ððð¤ pic.twitter.com/JINqQUgGw2 — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) October 14, 2017 Zaira, too, was impressed by Kohli as she said, "Be it his way of playing the game of cricket or his attitude, Virat is very good." There was also a Q&A round where Aamir and Zaira were pinned against each other. After answering a question each correctly, the duo was asked a tie-breaker question to find the winner. Asked to name the captain of Indian women's cricket team, Aamir fumbled and said: "I know but I'm not getting it now". Zaira too couldn't answer the question. Sapru tried to help them out with some hints, before answering the question himself. © Reuters In what turned out to be India's best-ever campaign in women's World Cup history, Mithali led her side to the final of the ICC Women's World Cup before their heart-breaking loss to hosts England earlier this year. But, despite her heroics, Mithali and other women cricketers are yet to break away from the shadows of their male counterparts. Apart from Aamir, Kohli, himself, had goofed-up while congratulating Mithali for her unique feat earlier this year. In a Facebook post, that was taken down almost immediately, Kohli called Mithali's achievement of becoming the leading ODI run-getter a milestone in cricketing history. © Reuters But, the 28-year-old, rather than using Mithali's photo, ended up posting a picture of her teammate Punam Raut. Since then, Indian women cricketers have become household names in the country. They have been felicitated by the government and appeared on numerous TV shows to share their respective inspirational journeys in cricket. However, despite all that, Aamir's latest faux pas has once brought the long-standing question to the fore - what more must the women cricketers do to earn respect and recognition in the country?
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Here's some great new for all Mithali Raj fans out there! The young Indian cricket team captain, who led India's cricket team to the finals of the ICC Women's World Cup, in England, earlier this year, has been credited as one of the most influential women in India by the BBC, in their ‘100 most influential women' list. © BBC The list is basically a collection of women, from all over the world, from different walks of life, who have been positive influencers in society. The list is mainly inspired by the BBC 100 Women Challenge and includes women who have tackled some of the biggest problems facing women around the world. The challenge will be held in New Delhi from October 9-13, where a team formed will look into female illiteracy. The challenge is happening all around the world, where different teams are formed to tackle the issues and challenges surrounding the particular place. Other places hosting the 100 Women Challenge are Silicon Valley, where the group will tackle the glass ceiling. Nairobi and London teams will focus on improving safety in public transports and finally Rio's team will work towards sexism in sports (we need a debate or two about that, in India!). It's a moment of pride for us as our very own highest run-scorer in the ODIs is considered as a top influencer along with some more Indian women. The others who made it on the list are – Ira Trivedi: writer, yoga teacher and an activist, Aditi Avasthi: founder and CEO of Embibe, Tulika Kiran: She has been teaching kids at Tihar jail for the past 8 years, Mehroonisa Siddiqui: mother of Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Dr. Urvashi Sahni: Women's right activist and educationist. © Times of India The whole idea of pushing society towards recognising talent amongst women is much needed in the new world order. We're not saying men don't qualify for such a list but more often than not, women are undermined for their achievements in various fields and this list just puts their efforts out there. Women speaking out on issues concerning public spheres and actively working towards rectifying these issues, hence, is a challenge that needs sole recognistion and we're more than happy that the BBC has defined a promising way to do so!
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At the tender age of 19, Mithali Raj had emerged as one of India's most capable batswomen with a staggering 214 against England in the final Test at Taunton back in 2002. Since that day, the right-hander, over the years, has not only become a vital cog for the Indian batting line-up, but is also one of the biggest names in international cricket. She smashed numerous records and rose rapidly through the ranks in Indian cricket, but during India's best-ever outing in the ICC Women's World Cup, she etched her name in history books for a personal feat that established her reputation as one of the legends of the game. And, even for someone who doesn't watch cricket, the name Mithali Raj would surely ring a bell - thanks to her exploits earlier this year. Reuters But, despite all her records and contribution to the game, Mithali's on-field record clearly means nothing if she ends up wearing a piece of clothing of her choice. And, that's exactly what happened when the Indian captain shared a photo of herself on Twitter recently. #tb #PostShootSelfie #funtimes #girlstakeover pic.twitter.com/p5LSXLYwmA — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) September 6, 2017 Mithali had posted a picture on Twitter with the caption: "#tb #PostShootSelfie #funtimes #girlstakeover". The picture was probably clicked after a commercial shoot where Mithali was seen in the company of her friends. While the Indian batting sensation was probably looking to give her fans a glimpse of her daily life, a few so-called Indian cricket fans seemed to disagree. Soon, what seemed just like a normal picture, was branded as offensive by a few fans who went on a rampage to point out that the Indian skipper didn't dress 'decently enough'. If that wasn't enough, a Twitter user even asked Mithali if she was a pornstar. are you porn star???? Have you any respect? — awais (@awaiss11111) September 6, 2017 Not good to see you in this costumes. Don't mistake me. Be an Indian women that too TAMIL NADU WOMEN. — Nandagopal.R (@NandagopalR4) September 6, 2017 At is this exposing. Ur are a inspiration. Please remove it mam — s.RAMANJANEYULU (@sRAMANJANEYULU5) September 6, 2017 Mithali ji did not expect me to dress such a dress from you. At least you do not love your respect, you will finish the respect of your fanc — Pushpak (@Pushpak97662453) September 6, 2017 Bichari usko to kamaane do she s nt too rich ask some male cricketer they hv crores — dream world __ (@DSharma37464681) September 6, 2017 Unfortunately, this isn't the first time that the Indian captain has been exposed to the idiocracy of the self-proclaimed upholders of morality. A few weeks ago, Mithali had attracted similar comments after she shared a photo of herself in the company of Veda Krishnamurthy, Mamatha Maben and Nooshin Al Khadeer. What a momentous day today was, standing with these special women!!@MabenMaben @AlNooshin @vedakmurthy08 pic.twitter.com/EsNwRN2G7N — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 20, 2017 “What a momentous day today was, standing with these special women!! @MabenMaben @AlNooshin @vedakmurthy08," she tweeted. The quartet had inaugurated a cricket centre and posed for a picture soon after. While Indian cricket fans loved the picture and lauded the women as champions, one Twitter user somehow managed to ignore all the positive aspects of the image and tried to shame Mithali by pointing out the sweat on her dress. I m where I m because I sweated it out on d field! I see no reason 2 b ashamed f it, when I'm on d ground inaugerating a cricket academy. https://t.co/lC5BOMf7o2 — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 20, 2017 And, Mithali didn't hold back either. The Indian captain replied: "I m where I m because I sweated it out on d field! I see no reason 2 b ashamed f it, when I'm on d ground inaugurating a cricket academy". (sic) Despite scaling new heights, while the women cricketers are still trying to break away from the shadows of their male counterparts who continue to garner more limelight, the latest incident highlights the plight of girls trying to play and succeed in the gentleman's game.
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Indian Captain Mithali Raj Guns Down Twitter Troll Who Tried To Shame Her
ADMIN posted a blog entry in FDF Online News
Ever since their brilliant World Cup campaign, Mithali Raj and the Indian women's cricket team have become the icons for the youngsters in the country. Despite finishing second in the tournament, the Indian women cricketers have won plaudits from all corners of the country. Thanks to their exploits, the likes of Mithali, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana have become widely-followed celebrities on the social media. Their social life is under scrutiny more than ever and every single post by them on the social media is now making headlines. © Reuters Amongst the World Cup heroes, Mithali is probably the most active one on the social media. The 34-year-old doesn't shy away from speaking her mind and constantly keeps her fans updated with her daily activities. On 20 August, she took to Twitter and shared a photograph with her teammate Veda Krishnamurthy and former international cricketers Nosshin Al Khadeer and Mamatha Maben at the launch of a cricket academy in Bengaluru. Mithali described her counterparts as "special women" and added she had spent a "momentous day" on Sunday. What a momentous day today was, standing with these special women!!@MabenMaben @AlNooshin @vedakmurthy08 pic.twitter.com/EsNwRN2G7N — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 20, 2017 While the Indian cricket fans loved the picture and lauded the women as champions, one Twitter user somehow managed to ignore all the positive aspects of the image and tried to shame Mithali by pointing out the sweat on her dress. I m where I m because I sweated it out on d field! I see no reason 2 b ashamed f it, when I'm on d ground inaugerating a cricket academy. https://t.co/lC5BOMf7o2 — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 20, 2017 And, Mithali didn't hold back either. The Indian captain replied: "I m where I m because I sweated it out on d field! I see no reason 2 b ashamed f it, when I'm on d ground inaugurating a cricket academy". This isn't the first time when Mithali had answered with a straight bat. Ahead of the ICC Women's World Cup, Mithali had also shut down a journalist over a sexist query. Asked to name her favourite male cricketer, Mithali gave befitting reply to the journalist. "Do you ask the same question to a male cricketer? Do you ask them who their favourite female cricketer is?" Mithali had said. "I have always been asked who's your favourite cricketer but you should ask them who their favourite female cricketer is," she added further. -
After a successful World Cup campaign in England, Indian captain Mithali Raj has argubaly become the face of women's cricket in the country. From breaking records to guiding her side to the final, the Indian skipper lead from the front in India's pursuit of their maiden World Cup title. Despite eventually falling short in the final against England, Mithali & co. earned plaudits from all corners of the country. And, her exploits in the recently-concluded tournament, has made become a worthy idol for aspiring cricketers and youngsters. The right-hander, on Thursday, brought a similar case to fore when she responded to a cute video uploaded by a fan on Twitter. The video shows a little girl wearing the iconic Team India jersey. And, she goes on say, "I'm the captain of Indian cricket team." Dress up as any national leader for school event. Our very own Captain of Indian cricket team @M_Raj03 to inspire my daughter.. #MithaliRaj pic.twitter.com/8PIZcTsL3b — Apoorva Ekbote (@aekbote) August 10, 2017 The video was uploaded by '@aekbote' - a twitter user - who shared the cute story of how his daughter decided to dress up as the Indian captain for a school event where kids were asked to be any national leader. This is cute! ð May she achieve her endeavours in all the spheres of life! https://t.co/FKJRvWirDi — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 10, 2017 Smitten by the girl, Mithali replied back: "This is cute! May she achieve her endeavours in all the spheres of life!" The video has so far garnered over 1,700 likes on Twitter with fans, once again, lauding the the Indian women's team for their best-ever showing in the World Cup and making the country proud. During the ICC mega event, Mithali became the first-ever woman cricketer to score seven consecutive fifties in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and also surpassed England's Charlotte Edwards to become the leading run-scorer in 50-over cricket. © Reuters Such were her exploits that she was also chosen as the captain of 2017 World Cup's dream team. Apart from Mithali, the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma, too, played a pivotal role in India's brilliant showing in the tournament.
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They had won four games on the trot before defeating New Zealand to seal their semi-finals berth in the ICC Women's World Cup. Playing against the mighty Australians in the semis, the Indian women's team - riding on a belter of an innings from Harmanpreet Kaur (171*) shocked the defending champions to set up the showdown against hosts England in the summit clash. But, for India, it wasn't meant to be. The Indian women's team was left ruing what could have been their maiden World Cup title triumph in probably their best campaign in the history of the tournament. Deciding to bat first, England were off to a brilliant start with both their openers Lauren Winfield (24) and Tammy Beaumont (23) getting the better of the Indian bowling attack. There were a couple of lapses and a dropped catch before Rajeshwari Gayakwad got the breakthrough in the 12th over for India. Soon, the introduction of spin brought two more wickets - tournament's top-scorer Beaumont and opposition captain Heather Knight (1) as England found themselves reeling at 63 for 3 in the 17th over. © Reuters Desperate for a steady partnership, the hosts found solace in the 83-run stand between Sarah Taylor (45) and Natalie Sciver (51). The duo held back the cross-batted shots that the three previous wickets fell to, and made adequate use of their feet to negate the Indian spinners instead. Bolstered by the depth in their batting, England looked set for a 250-plus total, until Jhulan Goswami had Taylor caught behind in the 33rd over. Tough luck team. You've come a long way and we're all proud of you. #INDvENG #WWC17Final — cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) July 23, 2017 Eventually, a discliplined bowling performance in the death overs by India meant that the hosts were restricted for a mere 228 runs at the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs. While the target was surely below-par according to the standards of the coveted tournament, the Indian team - contrary to popular perception - failed to cross the final hurdle before losing the title by just nine runs. Chasing a moderate total of 228 runs, India witnessed yet another batting failure by their much-hyped opener Smriti Mandhana who failed to open her account before falling prey to England seamer Anya Shrubsole in the very second over of the game. © Reuters While Mandhana has been the talk of the tournament, it was her opening partner Punam Raut (86) who continued her fine run to aid India in their chase. Raut hit over the infield when she could not find the boundary, favouring mid-on in the first 10 overs. She did call Mithali Raj (17) for a dodgy single though, which resulted in India's best hope falling short of her crease. However, a 95-run partnership between Raut and Harmanpreet Kaur (51) got India's run-chase back on track. But, just when the Mithali brigade was beginning to breathe easy, Harmanpreet lost her wicket just before the batting Powerplay came into effect, top edging a sweep off Alex Hartley to deep square-leg. Later, some brilliant stroke-play from Veda Krishnamurthy (35) helped India take 28 runs off the Powerplay though with another 56 runs required off the last 60 balls. England win in sensational turnaround. India's hopes dashed from winning position. Memorable campaign tho, put women's cricket top of mind — Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 23, 2017 Raut and Veda were looking good for the Indian side when a devastating spell by Shrubsole got the Women in Blue on the backfoot. The England vice captain got late inswing to trap Raut in front of the stumps in the 43rd over, and at the other end, Alexandra Hartley rattled the stumps of the new batter Sushma Verma. In her next over, Shrubsole took two wickets in three balls, sending back Veda (35) and Goswami (0) to leave India reeling at 201/7. © Reuters Deepti Sharma (14) and Shikha Pandey (4) were probably India's last hope as they kept the scoreboard ticking with nervous singles. However, Pandey failed to hold her nerve as she lost her wicket following a silly run-out in 48th over with India requiring just 11 runs to win. In a tense finish to a befitting finale, England needed just two wickets to steal a thriller and their star bowler Shrubsole was up to the task. The right-arm speedster struck on the very first delivery of the 49th over to dismiss Sharma and have the Indian camp in a spot of bother. Brilliant final. Wasn't skill, just nerves. Well played England, they pulled out a lost game. — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 23, 2017 With Poonam Yadav (1) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (0) at the crease, Team India were still hopeful for a miracle before Shrubsole bowled the latter to steal a thriller for her side. © Reuters It was an anti-climactic result for India since they were well on course for a memorable triumph, sitting pretty at 191 for three in 42.5 before a sensational batting collapse that saw them lose the chance of creating history by just nine runs. For years, women's cricket was treated with a certain amount of condescension, a sport in which there was minimal, if any interest. No endorsements, no publicity, it was not even considered elegant enough to watch for long periods. But, no longer. The Indian women's cricket team might have failed to cross the final hurdle and a rare chance to create history, but their memorable run in the ICC World Cup has undeniably broken the barrier in a sport that was long-associated and dominated by their male counterparts.
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At the age of 34, Mithali Raj has probably achieved everything there is in international cricket. She has shattered numerous records, won multiple laurels and has gone on to become one of the biggest names in the sport. And, over the years, she has established herself as one of India's most capable batswoman in the game. But, she isn't done just yet. The past few months, and especially the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup, saw Mithali scale new heights in the game. She slammed seven consecutive fifties in the ODIs and then followed it up by breaking the 6,000-run barrier to become the first-ever woman to achieve the feat. And, just when you thought it couldn't get any better for Mithali, it somehow did. Going from strength to strength, the Indian captain continued her fine run with yet another gem of an innings that saw her reach a personal milestone - this time against the Kiwis. Perfect response from the team after 2 losses to win against New Zealand and seal the semis spot against the Aussies. ???????? pic.twitter.com/BCndsARL92 — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) July 15, 2017 During India's crucial tie against New Zealand, Mithali led from the front and slammed her sixth ODI hundred to guide India to an imposing total of 265 runs. Leading from the front, she stitched a 132-run partnership with her deputy Harmanpreet Kaur (60) for the third wicket. Reuters However, Harmanpreet's dismissal in the 36th over eventually saw India losing two quick wickets in a space of seven deliveries. With the Kiwis sensing an opportunity to tighten the noose, India desperately needed a partnership and once again it was Mithali who stitched a partnership of 108 runs for the fifth wicket with adequate support from her teammate Veda Krishnamurthy (70). Riding on the heroics of Mithali, while India managed to showcase their batting might, New Zealand, on the other hand, failed miserably. Reuters Chasing 266 runs, the Kiwis suffered early setbacks with both their openers Suzie Bates (1) and Rachel Priest (5) returning to the pavilion within the first three overs. Soon, the Black Caps found themselves reeling at 27-3 in 11 overs. While New Zealand was in desperate need of a partnership to steady their innings, the worst was yet to come. Amy Satterthwaite (26) and Sophie Devine (7) had stitched a budding, yet promising, 24-run partnership for the fourth wicket when Rajeshwari Gayakwad dismissed the former to rattle their chase. Satterthwaite's dismissal triggered a massive batting collapse for her side that lost its next six wickets for a mere 28 runs. Reuters On a day when the Kiwis needed their batswoman to deliver, only three players managed to score in double digits with Satterthwaite's 26 being the highest for a team that was eventually bowled out for just 79 runs. For India, left-arm spinner Gayakwad spun a web around the Kiwis to register her maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs. Gayakwad finished her spell with impressive figures of 5/15 - her best in an ODI innings. Apart from Gayakwad, Deepti Sharma (2/26), Jhulan Goswami (1/14), Shikha Pandey (1/12) and Poonam Yadav (1/12) were also amongst the wicket-takers for India. After crushing losses to South Africa and Australia earlier, India desperately needed to beat the Kiwis to make the cut for the last-four stage. And, with Mithali and Gayakwad leading the way, the Indian women's cricket team stormed into the semi-finals where they'll now lock horns with the mighty Aussies on 20 July. Mithali 'Consistent' Raj has brought her A+ game to the park again...let's finish strongly from here @BCCIWomen #WWC17 — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 15, 2017 Given importance of match and tournament, arguably her finest century. Well played @M_Raj03! — Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 15, 2017 Mithali Raj looks fluent and elegant with her drives thru the off side. Sounding sweet of the bat #INDvNZ @cricketworldcup @DerbyshireCCC — Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) July 15, 2017 What a captains knock from @M_Raj03 ??Not to forget the impact innings from Veda Krishnamurthy??C'mon @BCCIWomen we can win this?? #WWC17 — VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 15, 2017 Captain leading from the front! @M_Raj03 ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??? ! ???? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ?????????? ! #INDvNZ #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/F3eARBGB9R — Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) July 15, 2017
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On 12 July, Mithali Raj etched her name in history books after becoming the leading run-scorer in women's One-Day International (ODI) cricket. She will now be remembered as the first-ever woman to break the barrier of 6,000 runs in ODI cricket. Starting from 7th February this year, Mithali hit seven consecutive half-centuries - a streak that eventually came to an end when she fell for 46 runs against West Indies in Taunton. Apart from this, she has also notched up the maximum number of fifties by any woman cricketer in the 50-over format. Those with even an iota of knowledge about cricket would surely regard Mithali as one of the legends of the game. And, you'd think there's probably nothing left for the Indian batswoman to prove, right? Wrong. © Reuters For a 19-year-old girl who emerged to be one of India's most capable batswoman with a staggering 214 against England in 2002 and later became a vital cog in her team's batting line-up, Mithali, 34 now, is still answering sexist queries from callous journalists with a straight bat. During a dinner and media interaction on the eve of the ICC Women's World Cup, Mithali responded tersely when asked who her favourite male cricketer between India and Pakistan was. "Do you ask the same question to a male cricketer? Do you ask them who their favourite female cricketer is?" was her retort. The Indian captain isn't the only one from her country who's currently ruling the ODI charts. Mithali's teammate Jhulan Goswami, another seasoned campaigner, is the highest wicket-taker in the history of 50-over format with 189 scalps in 160 ODIs to her name. Despite that, women's cricketers continue to struggle for recognition and media attention. © BCCL It's not that only a handful of experienced players are doing the job for the team, the young guns, too, seem to have followed their suit. The rise of young Smriti Mandhana at the top of Indian batting order evoked a strong response from the cricket fraternity. But, while only a handful lauded her in the right spirit, others were either comparing her to former greats of the men's category, or labelling her the new 'national crush' after Bollywood actress Disha Patani. Right NoW India NeW 😍😍Crush😍😍 Smriti Mandhana ❤#INDvPAK #PakvInd #INDWvPAKW #ICCWomensWorldCup @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/6iyWi4nteV — Troll Master (@imTrollmaster) July 2, 2017 The women's team is generally not on the media's radar unless they are playing in top ICC tournaments like the ongoing World Cup. And, even if they do, it's often the failure of the men's team to live up to the expectations in a particular series that unfortunately compels the media to shift their focus on the women's side. Similar was the case with the Indian women's emphatic win over Pakistan recently. While the men in blue were stunned by the Sarfraz Ahmed-led side in the ICC Champions Trophy final, the victory of the Indian women's team over Pakistan was celebrated and compared with the downfall of the Indian men in the summit clash. The men's match between #INDvWI looking so pale in comparison to our girls sensational victory against Pakistan. Proud of our girls#INDvPAK — Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 2, 2017 The Indian women's team had won four consecutive matches in the league stage including the rout of Pakistan. Still, the women seldom make it to the front pages. Is there an implicit gender bias at work? Well, the fact that the last match India played against a formidable South Africa wasn't even televised makes the case stronger. © Reuters Well, in all fairness, the media is not the only one to blame here. After all, they are only catering to the trends and needs of the masses. It's actually the people, including fans, who need to change their mindset and start accepting these women's cricketers who they truly are - athletes whose hard-work and perseverance is no less than their male counterparts. To some extent, the popular figures - in and outside cricket - are also responsible in shaping up the minds of the masses. When they don't react or as simple as acknowledge the achievements of women's cricketers, it somehow allows their fans to believe that it's probably okay not to recognise or react to what unfolds in the less popular arena of cricket. © Facebook In a more bizarre, yet important, case; Virat Kohli was probably trying to break that monotony when he decided to congratulate Mithali for her astronomical achievement. While the intentions of the Indian captain were probably good, the fact that he still failed to figure out what Mithali looks like, is just sad. In Facebook post, that was taken down almost immediately, Kohli called Mithali's achievement of becoming the leading ODI run-getter a milestone in cricketing history. But, the 28-year-old, rather than using Mithali's photo, ended up posting a picture of her teammate Punam Raut. While Kohli is facing a lot of backlash for his sheer ignorance, his faux pas has once again brought the long-standing question to the fore - what more must the women cricketers do to earn respect and recognition in the country? And, while everyone's busy giving their own opinion on the matter, Kohli's goof-up highlights the bitter truth – what it must feel like to be a woman playing the gentleman's game.
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At a tender of just 19, Mithali Raj had emerged as one of India's most capable batswoman with a staggering 214 against England in the final Test at Taunton back in 2002. Since that day, the right-hander, over the years, has not only become a vital cog for the Indian batting line-up, but is also one of the biggest names in international cricket. She has smashed numerous records and rose rapidly through the ranks in Indian cricket, but on the 12th of July she etched her name in the history books for a personal feat that surely establishes her reputation as one of the legends of the game. © Twitter During the all-important clash against Australia, Mithali once again led from the front slamming a gritty knock of 69 runs. In the process, the 34-year-old became the all-time leading run-getter in the history of women's One-Day Internationals (ODI). Leading India's charge in the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup, Mithali overtook England's Charlotte Edwards who was earlier leading the charts with 5,992 ODI runs to her name. The Indian captain achieved the milestone after scoring her 34th run in the innings in Bristol. A six to bring up six thousand. #MithaliRaj #GOAT #enoughsaid — Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) July 12, 2017 Mithali took just 164 innings and 183 ODIs to reach the feat, while Edwards had taken 180 innings to get to hers. Not only did she smash past the Englishwoman's world record but the Rajasthani cricketer also became the first-ever woman to reach the 6000-ODI run mark. Starting from 7th February this year, Mithali hit seven consecutive half-centuries - a streak that eventually came to an end when she fell for 46 runs against West Indies in Taunton. Apart from this, she has also notched up the maximum number of fifties by any women's cricketer in the 50-over format. While Mithali is currently leading the batting charts, her teammate Jhulan Goswami had recently become the leading wicket-taker in the history of women's ODI cricket. The Indian seamer has bagged 189 wickets in 160 ODIs. A great moment for Indian Cricket, @M_Raj03 becomes the highest run scorer in Women's ODI Cricket History today. Champion Stuff! 👌👏 — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 12, 2017 Leading ODI Run Scorers #MithaliRaj pic.twitter.com/deRA2kK4rj — Mogambo🇮🇳⏺ (@UberHandle) July 12, 2017 Mithali Raj becomes the highest run scorer in Women's ODI Cricket History today. Super achievement ! @BCCI @M_Raj03 — ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) July 12, 2017 Congratulations legend Mithali Raj @M_Raj03 on becoming the highest run scorer in Women ODIs.All time great. Wish the team the best#IndvAus — Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 12, 2017 NEW WORLD RECORD! Congratulations to #MithaliRaj on breaking Charlotte Edwards' record for most runs in Women's ODIs #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/AqHGZrDt3W — ICC (@ICC) July 12, 2017 🏆 Highest run-getter in ODIs 🏆 First Woman to 6⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ runs 🏆 4⃣9⃣ half-centuries Some world record for #MithaliRaj — Mayanti Langer (@Langer_Mayanti) July 12, 2017
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While the men's team failed to lift the ICC Champions Trophy, the Indian women's cricket team kick-started their 2017 World Cup campaign with an astounding win over England at County Ground in Derby. While India secured a comprehensive 35-run victory, it was skipper Mithali Raj who eteched her name in the history books with yet another personal feat. Put in to bat, the Indian team got off to a brilliant start with both the openers Punam Raut (86) and Smriti Mandhana (90) providing a 144-run stand to their side. Their partnership was eventually broken by Heather Knight who got Mandhana out caught by Danielle Hazell in the 27th over. While England would've fancied a comeback after Mandhana's dismissal, they were soon left bearing the brunt of Mithali's blazing willow. The Indian captain slammed a 73-ball 71 including eight boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking for her side. A seventh consecutive fifty for the @BCCIWomen skipper, Mithali Raj! 🇮🇳 ➡️ https://t.co/zAcLPQA9Tu #ENGvIND #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/vqD4BAA8t1 — Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 24, 2017 It was Mithali's seventh consecutive half-century, bettering the likes of Lindsay Reeler (Australia), Ellyse Perry (Australia) and Charlotte Edwards (England), all of whom slammed six back-to-back fifties each in the past. In her last seven ODIs including this one against England, Mithali has scored - 71 vs England, 62* vs South Africa, 54 vs South Africa, 51* vs South Africa, 73* vs Bangladesh, 64 vs South Africa and 70* vs Sri Lanka. Also, this is Mithali's 47 ODI fifty, which is also the highest in women's cricket history. Meanwhile, the India skipper is also just 148 runs away from becoming the first women's cricketer ever to slam 6000 ODI runs. Superb batting performance by the @BCCIWomen's team! Keep it up @SmritiMandhana, Poonam Raut and @RajMithali — sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 24, 2017 Thanks to her blitz alongside the fifties from Mandhana and Raut, India managed to post a competitve total of 281 runs at the loss of just three wickets in 50 overs. In reply, England fell short by 35 runs before being bowled out in 47.3 overs. Fran Wilson (81) and Heather Knight (46) tried to get England's chase on track, but both of them got run-out thanks to some brlliance in the field by India. With figures of 3-47, off-spinner Deepti Sharma turned out to be the most effective bowler for India. Seamer Shikha Pandey, too, impressed with her tally of two wickets at the expense of 35 runs. Captain #MithaliRaj posts a record seventh consecutive half-century in ODIs - India 235/2 #WWC17 #ENGvIND Follow - https://t.co/wTDfX8Vsu8 — BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 24, 2017 The Indian team will now take on West Indies in their second group game at the County Ground in Taunton on 29 June.
