Former Indian women’s cricket team player Mithali Raj recently shared her experience of training in an all-boys academy while growing up. Raj started playing cricket at a young age, and at that time the status of women’s cricket in India was quite different as compared to the current era.
Mithali Raj had to start practicing cricket in a boy academy, where her brother would also train. Sharing her experience of playing in that academy, Raj said in an interview with Sportskeeda Cricket:
“Those boys were not my age, they were quite senior to me. Playing with boys really helps you because they are very competitive.”
Initially, the boys in that academy did not take Mithali Raj seriously, thinking that she was a girl and she cannot hit the ball hard. However, once Raj played some good shots off their bowling, they tried bowling short deliveries and bouncers to her.
“Initially they think, she is a girl, so she won’t hit us hard. But once you hit them, you can be rest assured that they will aim for your head with the next delivery (laughs). That really brings the best out of a girl,” added Mithali.
Mithali Raj announced her retirement from international cricket earlier this year
Earlier this year, Mithali Raj decided to end her international career after representing the Indian women’s cricket team at the highest level for two decades. She made her debut back in 1999 and was elected the vice-captain of the team by 2002. Back in 2002, she also set a world record for the highest individual score.
Raj ended up as one of the most successful women’s cricketers of all time. Some fans even labeled her as the Sachin Tendulkar of the women’s division. Fans will get a chance to watch her journey on the big screen soon as Taapsee Pannu will play Mithali’s character in Shabaash Mithu.
