Veteran India cricketer and current ODI team captain Mithali Raj stated that 2022 world cup will be her ultimate destination and if she continues to play that long in that case she will be completing 23 years in the International circuit.
Mithali is certainly touted as one of the finest cricketers in the International women’s circuit who has ever played the game and Raj has been a stalwart and has the record of most runs (7098), most centuries (7), most half-centuries (62), and most games (214 ODIs) in Women’s 50-over cricket.
Mithali said that we need some fast pacer in our lineup for quick and for the quick and bouncy tracks of New Zealand where the world cup is scheduled next year.
She was talking about her International cricket journey during the virtual launch of the book ‘1971: The Beginning of India’s Cricketing Greatness’, published by Harper Collins and co-authored by Boria Majumdar and Gautam Bhattacharya where the ace batswomen added that “It’s been 21 years of international cricket and I know 2022 is my swansong, The World Cup. The last year is equal to the 20 years of my international cricket.”
“I know we are in difficult times but it takes a lot out of me to keep working on my fitness. I am not getting any younger, in fact, I am getting older and I know the importance of fitness,” Mithali said.
“The importance of being in a very good emotional and mental set-up, knowing that there will be very few tours before the World Cup.” India is set for the away tours in England, Australia, and New Zealand and a home series against West Indies scheduled in between.
“Every tour (from now on) is important for me as a batter as to how I am going to get the team to regroup and build a team for the World Cup,” she said.
“Yeah, I am very optimistic looking at the girls and in the manner, they have been working with whatever facilities they have in these times and focus and enthusiasm that a series is coming up,” she added.
She was superb as skipper in the last world cup held in 2017 where the team lost the final against England.
