Mithali Raj’s legacy is about inspiring a generation to take up the sport

Twenty three years of excellence at the highest level. Add to this two World Cup finals, 93 fifty-plus scores, 10,868 international runs, an ODI century on debut, a Test double century as a teenager (still the second highest score in Women’s Tests) and Mithali Raj’s achievements as a player. Understand the magnitude of

However, her real legacy isn’t just the numbers. Rather, it is one of empowerment, which is about inspiring a generation of young girls to take up sports. When Mithali led the team to the World Cup final in 2005, there was hardly any coverage. No one cared what was really happening with the women’s team. Even after the final the team had to travel in unreserved coaches and at times sit next to toilets to be able to reach their destination.

Now, things are profoundly different. The team travels in business class and the Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL), which will make the sport a viable career option for young girls in the country, is just a year away. Mithali has presided over this transformation and led India not only on the field but also off it. This is what makes him a true pioneer of the game. What explains Mithali’s longevity is a question that has often been debated. The answer is what he did at the end of the first Kovid-19 lockdown.

For the record, Mithali had played 21 years by then and had little left to prove to anyone. However, it didn’t matter to him. With an eye on the ODI World Cup in New Zealand, she moved from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, rented an apartment, and prepared for days in isolation with a personal trainer. She wanted to make sure she didn’t get the virus while preparing for the World Cup, which was originally scheduled to be held in February 2021, but the ICC postponed it by a year, and Mithali had to stop her preparations. Had to do

For Mithali, it was always about working the hardest. While doing this, he never allowed the ego to dominate him. This is reflected in his leadership as well. She was happy to take suggestions from the youth in the team. She once said, “Whenever I’m nervous I try to interact with the youngsters, because they give off a very different energy. So, it’s good to be around youngsters who are like a seasoned player.” Don’t put pressure.

“Many times I look at the team for confidence because as a captain there are games where you feel that pressure, it is a do or die situation and you alone have to give confidence to the team. But there were some situations where I looked at the team and found experienced players like Jhulan (Goswami) under the same pressure. But then there are youngsters who don’t care about all this because they are young in the team and don’t carry the burden of the past. It’s actually quite refreshing.”

After leading the team for years and watching the system evolve into a one-of-a-kind framework, Mithali, in her second innings, could be a treasure trove for the game going forward. Not only can she make a very good commentator, she also has the skills and knowledge to be in administration and guide the women’s sport. With the coming of WIPL, a lead role could see a very different side of Mithali and give her yet another challenge to move forward. With that, we can be sure of one thing: There will never be any shortage of effort. This is what she leaves behind as her lasting legacy – work hard and give your best.

Originally published at Pen 18