An ode to Mithali Raj: The little master in disguise

The Scottish sports writer Hugh McIlvaney in writing ‘Jinky’ Jimmy Johnstone’s obituary remarked thus:

“When he was at his best, the performance was so extravagant and idiosyncratic, so full of wildly imaginative impertinences and a small (5ft 4in) man’s defiance of the odds that it touched us profoundly but lightly, as sport should. The natural reaction was not to gasp in awe, which would have been in order, but to smile or even to laugh out loud.”

Also Read: True legend, an inspiration: Cricket fraternity hails Mithali Raj

While comparisons between Mithali Raj and the irreverent Celtic winger are foolhardy, there is a grain of truth to the sentiment at large. While devoid of the maverick winger’s temperamental side, at 5 feet 2 inches, she has perhaps had to outdo similar odds. Baby-faced and feather-light, her willow would recompense adequately. From scything through Irish bowlers on her debut at the tender age of 16, she would continue haunting bowling attacks over the years in the same vein, making a mockery of size, skill and reputation while establishing herself as one of cricket’s greats. Flying under the radar, given the apathy of administrators towards women’s cricket, and the immense popularity of the men’s game across the cricket world, not least in India, she has carved this path almost in silence, lurking behind the shadows of the men’s team. If the Indian cricketing fraternity were swooning over the Little Master at large, Sachin Tendulkar, Mithali’s exploits received no such fanfare, perhaps nothing more than a corner column in the sports pages! 

Whilst possessing all the shots in the stroke book, her trademark cover drives and back-foot punches find no comparison. Batting with a lazy elegance, Raj was rarely ruffled by pace or spin. Such was her ability to pick line, length and variation she would always have an extra second or two to pick her shots, to find gaps not easily found, unmaking even the best laid plans.

Also Read: The Magic of Mithali Raj: The great batter’s five top knocks

Although she displayed the same virtuoso brilliance as Johnstone, all comparisons end in their broader attitude to life. The Scotsman-notoriously difficult to manage- was the antithesis of Mithali’s professionalism: all unwavering discipline and single-minded pursuit of greatness. A scorer of sublime runs and epic innings, she leaves behind a void in international cricket. But as with all eras, it must pass into the dark rooms of sporting memories but leave enough light to carry forward the generations to come.