Mithali Raj: Debut, Stats, Age, Net Worth, Records, Bio & ICC Ranking
Few names shine as brightly in Indian cricket as Mithali Raj. Known as the “Queen of Indian Cricket”, Mithali is considered one of the greatest batsmen in the history of women’s cricket. Her brilliant stroke play, consistency and leadership made her the face of Indian women’s cricket for over two decades.
She made her debut as a teenager and now, she has become one of the highest run-scorers in women’s international cricket. It is not wrong to say that Mithali’s journey is legendary and worth knowing. So let’s know about Mithali Raj’s debut, statistics, age, net worth, records, bio and ICC rankings in detail.
Early Life And Biography Â
Mithali Dorai Raj was born on 3 December 1982 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Her father, Dorai Raj, served in the Indian Air Force, and her mother, Leela Raj, encouraged her to join cricket. Interestingly, before cricket, Mithali used to do classical dance (Bharatanatyam). By the age of 10, she was training at a cricket academy in Hyderabad. Her talent was evident early on, and she quickly rose through the ranks, eventually making her debut for India at just 16.
Age of Mithali Raj Â
Mithali Raj turned 42 this year. She retired from international cricket in June 2022. However, she prefers to remain actively involved in cricket as a mentor, commentator and ambassador for the game.
Mithali Raj’s Debut Â
ODI Debut Â
- Date: 26 June 1999
- Opponent Team: Ireland
- Venue: Milton Keynes
Mithali made an unforgettable debut at the age of just 16, scoring a brilliant 114*.
Test Debut
- Date: 14 January 2002
- Opponent Team: England
- Venue: Lucknow
She made a name for herself in the longer format by displaying patience and technique.
T20I Debut
- Date: 5 August 2006
- Opponent Team: England
- Venue: Derby
Mithali Raj’s Stats Â
Batting & Fielding
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100s | 50s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTests | 12 | 19 | 3 | 699 | 214 | 43.68 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 0 |
| WODIs | 232 | 211 | 57 | 7805 | 125* | 50.68 | 7 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| WT20Is | 89 | 84 | 21 | 2364 | 97* | 37.52 | 0 | 17 | 19 | 0 |
Bowling
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTests | 12 | 5 | 72 | 32 | 0 | – | – | – | 2.66 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| WODIs | 232 | 10 | 171 | 91 | 8 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 11.37 | 3.19 | 21.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| WT20Is | 89 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | 6.00 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recent Matches of Mithali Raj
| Match | Bat | Date | Ground | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND Women vs SA Women | 68 | 27-Mar-2022 | Christchurch | WODI #1271 |
| IND Women vs BAN Women | 0 | 22-Mar-2022 | Hamilton | WODI #1265 |
| IND Women vs AUS Women | 68 | 19-Mar-2022 | Auckland | WODI #1261 |
| IND Women vs ENG Women | 1 | 16-Mar-2022 | Mount Maunganui | WODI #1258 |
| IND Women vs WI Women | 5 | 12-Mar-2022 | Hamilton | WODI #1253 |
Records And Achievements Â
- Most runs in women’s ODIs, 7,805 runs.
- First woman to complete two decades (20 years) in international cricket.
- Most matches captained in women’s cricket, 155 ODIs.
- She is the only Indian captain (both male and female) to have led India to two World Cup finals (2005 and 2017).
- Youngest woman to score a century on ODI debut at the age of 16 (114)*.
- Longest career in women’s cricket (over 22 years).
- First woman to score 200+ runs in Test cricket for India (214 vs England, 2002).
- Prestigious awards received:
- Arjuna Award (2003)
- Padma Shri (2015)
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2021)
Mithali Raj’s ICC Rankings Â
At the peak of her career, Mithali Raj started to break into the top 3 batsmen in the ICC ODI rankings.
- ODI rankings: Recurringly ranked number 1 during her best years.
- T20I rankings: Regularly ranked in the top 10 until her retirement.
- Test rankings: One of the best Test batsmen in women’s cricket during her active years.
Even after retirement, her name remains synonymous with batting excellence in women’s cricket.
Net Worth of Mithali Raj Â
Mithali Raj’s net worth in 2025 is around ₹35-40 crore (approx. $4.5-5 million USD).
Sources of income:
- BCCI central contract and match fees (till 2022).
- WPL Mentor role – Currently associated with Gujarat Giants in the WPL.
- Endorsements – Brands such as Royal Challenge, Bata, Hero MotoCorp and Manyavar.
- Media and films – Subject of the Bollywood biopic “Shabaash Mithu” (2022) starring Taapsee Pannu.
- Commentary and cricket analysis – A regular voice in global cricket debates.
Contribution to Indian Cricket
Mithali Raj’s influence on Indian cricket is unparalleled:
- She was able to take Indian women’s cricket from its early years into the professional era.
- Raj has inspired millions of young girls to play cricket. After leading India to the 2017 World Cup final, she significantly increased the popularity of women’s cricket in India.
- Competing toe-to-toe with Australia and England, she helped India become a global power in women’s cricket.
- As captain, she nurtured young talents like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Shafali Verma, who are now the face of a new generation.
Challenges And Resilience
Mithali’s career was not without struggles:
- The most common in women’s cricket during the 90s – limited resources and visibility.
- Injuries that tested her patience and fitness.
- Faced leadership controversies, especially with differences in team strategy.
- Yet, she faced them all with dignity, letting her bat do the talking.
Recommended to Read: Smriti Mandhana: Debut, Stats, Age, Net Worth, Records, Bio & ICC Ranking
Future Prospects
Even after retirement, Mithali remains actively involved in cricket. She is currently:
- Guiding Gujarat Giants in the WPL, shaping future stars.
- Commentator and analyst in international cricket.
- The potential to take on larger administrative or coaching roles to take women’s cricket to a global level in the future.
Conclusion Â
Mithali Raj’s story is about breaking barriers, redefining women’s sports in India and inspiring generations. After more than 23 years in international cricket, she leaves behind a legacy of class, consistency and leadership.
Her records may eventually be broken, but her contribution to Indian cricket and global women’s sport is eternal. Mithali Raj will always be remembered as the backbone of Indian women’s cricket and one of the finest batsmen the game has produced.
FAQs: People Also Ask
Q1. How many international runs has Mithali Raj scored in her career?
Mithali Raj scored 10,868 international runs in various formats. Thus, she became the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket.
Q2. How long did Mithali Raj captain the Indian women’s cricket team?
She captained India for over 18 years, making her the longest-serving captain in cricket history.
Q3. What is Mithali Raj’s batting style?
Mithali Raj is a right-handed batsman, known for her beauty, timing and consistency at the crease.
Q4. Has Mithali Raj ever scored a century in a World Cup?
Yes, she scored a brilliant 114 against Ireland at the age of just 16 in the 1999 Women’s World Cup*, which was also her debut match.
Q5. When did Mithali Raj retire from international cricket?
Mithali Raj announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on 8 June 2022.
