India batting legend Mithali Raj on Monday announced retirement from all forms of international cricket after an illustrious 23-year-long career.   

“I set out as a little girl on the journey to wear the India blues as representing your country is the highest honour. The journey was full of highs and some lows. Each event taught me something unique and the last 23 years have been the most fulfilling, challenging & enjoyable years of my life. Like all journeys, this one too must come to an end. Today is the day I retire from all forms of International Cricket,” she wrote on Twitter. 

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Born on December 3, 1982, Mithali started playing cricket at the age of 10 and received training during their school days. She started off her career by playing domestic cricket for Railways.

The 39-year-old cricketer made her ODI debut on June 26, 1999, against Ireland, scoring 114 runs. She made her Test debut on January 14, 2002, against England. It was, however, not a dream debut for her as she was run-out for a duck.

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She became the Captain of the Indian women’s cricket team in 2005 and led the side to the 2005 World Cup final where the team was defeated by Australia. She made her T20I debut on August 5, 2006, against England. 

Mithali is the leading run getter in women’s cricket across formats, ending her career with an overall tally of 10868 runs – 669 Test runs, 7367 One Day International runs, and 2364 T20 International runs.

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The cricketer from Rajasthan was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2003, Padma Shri in 2015, and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2021.