The 2022 World Cup will be my swan song: Mithali Raj.
Indian women’s ODI captain Mithali Raj indicated on Saturday that the 50-over World Cup 2022 in New Zealand will be her “swan song” after 23 illustrious years in international cricket.
The 38-year-old Mithali, arguably the best cricketer India has ever produced, also said she’s seriously looking for some good bowling options for New Zealand’s lively lanes that will be on offer next year. Also, read Garena Free Fire Redeem Code 27 April 2021.
“It has been 21 years of international cricket and I know that 2022 is my swan song, the World Cup,” Mithali said during the virtual launch of the book ‘1971: The Beginning of Indian Cricket Greatness’, published by Harper Collins and co-author of Boria Majumdar and Gautam Bhattacharya.
“The last year is equal to the 20 years of my international cricket,” he added.
Mithali, the only female hitter with more than 7,000 ODI runs, also spoke about how she had to stay motivated during the times of COVID-19, which also propelled the global event for a year.
“I know we are in difficult times, but it is very difficult for me to continue working on my physical form. I’m not getting any younger, I’m actually getting older and I know the importance of fitness, ”said MIthali.
“The importance of being in a very good emotional and mental disposition, knowing that there will be very few tours before the World Cup.”
The Indian women are scheduled to play four bilateral series – away tours in England, Australia, and New Zealand and a home series against the West Indies sandwiched in between.
“Every tour (from now on) is important to me as a hitter as to how I’m going to get the team regrouping and teaming up for the World Cup,” she said.
“Yes, I am very optimistic seeing the girls and the way they have been working with the facilities they have in these times and the focus and excitement that a series is coming.
He admitted that fast bowling is an area where the team needs to improve and build a pool looking to the future, as Jhulan Goswami also reaches the commercial end of his career.
“We definitely have to look at some players and prepare them for New Zealand, so yeah.”
Mithali also received some advice from the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who was one of the panelists during the discussion.
Gavaskar feels that Mithali and his group could take a sheet from Virat Kohli’s playbook of looking into the opponent’s eyes and return it without being intimidated.
“I was with my wife at Lord’s watching the final of the ODI Women’s World Cup 2017. What I saw was the English girls getting tough in your lower order and intimidating them with their attitude,” Gavaskar said.
“I would like the girls to look at the opposition instead of looking down. I feel like body language is a very important aspect. Look at Virat Kohli, he looks at the opposition and the rest of the team does that. ”
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.