Mithali Raj, the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, on Sunday joined the elite club of Sachin Tendulkar and Javed Miandad as India defeated Pakistan in the Women’s Cricket World Cup by 107 runs.
Mithali has now become the only woman to represent her country in six ODI World Cups. She went past New Zealand’s Debbie Hockley and Charlotte Edwards of England with both of them representing their countries in fice ODI World Cups.
Mithali also became the only third cricketer in the ODI history to feature in six ODI World Cups. Two other players to achieve this feat earlier have been Sachin Tendulkar of India and Pakistan’s Javed Miandad.
Mithali represented India in ICC Women’s ODI World Cups in 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017 and in 2022.
Sachin Tendulkar played for India in Men’s ODI World Cups in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, when India won the competition after a gap of 28 years.
Miandad represented Pakistan in six Men’s ODI World Cups in 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1996, when the competition was held in India.
Mithali was elated on leading her team to another convincing win against arch-rivals Pakistan in the opening encounter on Sunday. India had made 244-7 in 50 overs but bowled Pakistan out for 137.
Reacting to India’s win, Tendulkar tweeted, “Brilliant win for #TeamIndia! The partnership between Sneh & Pooja got us back in the game when we were 114/6. The best thing the two did was to rotate strike smartly & convert 2s into 3s & didn’t miss out on putting loose deliveries away. Their mindset helped us win. #INDvPAK.”
Tendulkar added, “I liked it when our spinners bowled slowly. The slower they bowled the more difficult it got. Hoping they continue to do the same in the rest of the matches. #CWC22.”