Leicester:India skipper Mithali Raj’s hunger for runs remains the same as it was 22 years ago and she is trying to add ”new dimensions” to her batting for one last hurrah at next year’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand.
Mithali on Saturday became the highest run-getter in women’s cricket across all formats while guiding India to a consolation four-wicket win over England in the third and final ODI here. She made an unbeaten 75 off 86 balls to take the visitors home. ”The way things have gone it wasn’t an easy journey. It had its trials and challenges. I always believed that trials have a purpose,” she said about her journey that started in Milton Keynes against Ireland on June 26, 1999. ”There were times when I wanted to give up for various reasons but something kept me going and here I am 22 years of international cricket but the hunger for runs has never sort of dried up.
”I am still very passionate to go out there, be there in the middle, and win games for India. I know there is still room for improvements in terms of my batting and that is something I am working on… There are certain dimensions I would like to add to my batting…” she said at the virtual post-match press conference. Mitchell, who has retired from T20 cricket in 2019, has already hinted that the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup, to be held in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3, will be her swansong.
