Former India skipper Mithali Raj is among the best cricketers that the country has produced. Having played the sport for over 20 years, the legendary Indian batter called time on her illustrious career on Wednesday, June 8, with a heartfelt post on social media.
A guiding force for women's cricket in India ever since she made her debut in international cricket almost 23 years back, Mithali has represented India in 12 Tests, 232 ODIs and 89 T20Is and was also the captain that led them to the finals of two World Cups. She recently caught up with Sports Tak for an exclusive interview to discuss her time with the national team, the prospects of a women's IPL, and why you cannot compare the men's game to the women's one.
Here are excerpts of the interview:
What is the difference between being retired and being a player?
There is a difference after retirement. You don't have to get up in the morning to train, you don't have to think about the future (tournaments for the national team). Now life is slow. At first, everything was fast. Now I will do what I have not been able to do yet.
What did Mithali Raj learn from her time with India?
I have learned a lot. I became captain at the age of 22. I have led the team for quite a while... There have been many players who were not even born when I started playing. I have led many generations... I learned a lot about man-management. Because managing all the players under you is an art in itself... The players have trusted me whenever I am batting. They say, 'Mithu is playing so everything is fine'. This is something I will cherish.
What changes have you noticed in the team administration-wise?
Things have gotten better with the advent of BCCI, especially for women cricketers. After we got the BCCI support, the biggest positive was that we got access to facilities, and were able to manage injuries. The BCCI was not there when I played in the World Cup in 2005 with an injury. Then there were many struggles for two-three years. When BCCI gave their support, I got to go to NCA and train. That has helped a lot of cricketers to extend their careers...
The introduction of a central contract in 2016 was a huge boost for cricketers. Many girls who are from humble backgrounds, do not need to leave cricket after a certain age because they are part of the contract. They can focus on the game and also take care of their families. So that has helped a lot of cricketers.
On the women's IPL
If this tournament had started earlier, there might have been a big change. But there are a lot of factors to consider for such a large-scale event. At the domestic level, we also have to look at the pool of our players to see how many teams can be formed. We have been playing the Challenger Trophy for the last three to four years, so we have seen what kind of players we have. Now it can be said that women's IPL can be started with five-six teams. Then it can be moved on.
Do you think people looked at you differently because you chose to play cricket?
When I first started playing cricket (in the 90s), people looked at it differently. Relatives and others used to talk about why they are investing so much in this game when there is no money, fame, or glory. When I was training, people thought she was a hockey player by looking at the kit bag. But gradually the attitude began to change when people started watching the matches, matches were televised, and they started to view us differently.
Did you ever feel that the limelight on women's cricket is less?
Initially, when I started off at the senior level. Around 2002-03 it seemed that people did not give us attention. But that was momentary. I am not a big fan of comparison. Because then you cannot enjoy the sport. As far as comparison is concerned, that is wrong. The journey for both has been very different. Where women's cricket is today, there was how men's cricket was, maybe in the 1980s. They too have taken time to move forward. It will take time for us too.
