Mithali Raj Retires From All Forms Of Cricket, Calls 23-Year-Long Career 'Most Fulfilling'

Mithali Raj Retires: The 39-year-old made her international debut in 1999 against Ireland and featured in 232 ODIs, 89 T20Is and 12 Tests for India.

Mithali Raj after the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup match between England and India

New Delhi: Cricketer and the Test and ODI captain of the Indian women's national cricket team Mithali Raj announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket. In a tweet on Wednesday, the Padma Shree and Khel Ratna awardee said, she is hanging up her boots after a 23-year-long illustrious career.

"Thank you for all your love & support over the years. I look forward to my 2nd innings with your blessing and support," she said in her tweet along with an emotional note.

In her official statement on Twitter, she penned: "The journey was full of highs and some lows. Each event taught me something unique and the last 23 years have been the most fulfilling, challenging & enjoyable years of my life. Like all journeys, this one too must come to an end."

Thank you for all your love & support over the years!
I look forward to my 2nd innings with your blessing and support. pic.twitter.com/OkPUICcU4u

— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) June 8, 2022

"It was an honour to have led the team for so many years...This journey may have ended but another one beckons as I’d love to stay involved in the game I love and contribute to the growth of Women’s Cricket in India and the world over," she said in her retirement note posted on Twitter.

The 39-year-old made her international debut in 1999 against Ireland and featured in 232 ODIs, 89 T20Is and 12 Tests for India. She retires as the most-capped Indian women's cricketer of all time and one of the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket.