Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Mithali Raj

Former Cricketer • Former India Captain

Mithali Raj is a former Indian cricketer and top-order batter who captained the women’s national team from 2004 to 2022. She is the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket and played in two Women’s World Cup finals as captain, in 2005 and 2017.

She announced her retirement from all formats in June 2022 after a career that began with her ODI debut against Ireland in 1999.

Profession
Former Cricketer, Former India Captain
Known for
Women's ODI cricket, Test cricket, captaincy, 2005 and 2017 World Cup finals
Date of birth
1982-12-03
Birthplace
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Nationality
Indian

Mithali Raj Quick Facts

Full NameMithali Raj
ProfessionFormer cricketer (batter); former captain of the Indian women’s team
Date of Birth3 December 1982
Age43 years (as of 2026)
BirthplaceJodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Playing StyleRight-handed top-order batter
Active Years1999–2022 (international)
CaptaincyIndia women’s team, 2004–2022
Domestic TeamsAndhra, Air India, Railways
NationalityIndian

Why Mithali Raj Matters

Mithali Raj’s career spanned more than two decades and was built on consistency in the 50-over format, where she scored more than 7,800 runs. Her leadership coincided with the growth of the women’s game in India, including two World Cup finals and the first Test series win by an Indian women’s team in England in 2006. Her record remains a reference point for women’s cricket in the country and has helped open the sport to younger players.

Mithali Raj Career Statistics

FormatMatchesRunsAverageCenturies / Fifties
Test1269943.681 / 4
ODI2327,80550.687 / 64
T20I892,36437.520 / 17

These figures are from the career table in the cited source. The source’s prose gives a different ODI century and fifty count, so the table is used here.

Early Life and Family

Mithali Raj was born on 3 December 1982 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Her father, Dorai Raj, was a warrant officer in the Indian Air Force. Her mother is Leela Raj.

Breakthrough as a Batter

Her ODI debut against Ireland in 1999 was followed by a Test debut against England in January 2002. Her consistency at the top of the order made her one of the most reliable batters in the women’s game, and she took over the captaincy in 2004.

Mithali Raj Career Milestones

YearMilestone
2005Led India to the final of the Women’s World Cup, as runner-up
2006Led India to its first Test series win in England; won the Asia Cup without losing a match
2017Led India to the Women’s World Cup final again, as runner-up
2019Retired from T20I cricket to focus on ODIs
2022Announced retirement from all formats of international cricket, on 8 June

Mithali Raj Records and Milestones

  • Highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket, according to the source.
  • Captained India for 18 years, from 2004 to 2022.
  • Scored more than 7,800 ODI runs.
  • Led India to the Women’s World Cup final in 2005 and 2017.

Mithali Raj Awards and Honours

YearAward
2003Arjuna Award
2015Padma Shri
2017Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World
2017Vogue Sportsperson of the Year
2017BBC 100 Women
2021Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna

Batting Style

Mithali Raj was known for her patience and her ability to build long innings. Her strength lay in pacing an innings across overs, and her ODI average of over fifty reflects that discipline across a long career.

Life After Retirement

Since her retirement in 2022, Mithali Raj has remained active in the sport and in public life, including brand work. The source reviewed for this profile does not describe a specific current role, so none is listed.

Mithali Raj Net Worth and Brand Value

These are published estimates, not official figures. The net worth figure below comes from a Business Today article published on 6 September 2026, which does not name its basis. No Kroll brand value was found for Mithali Raj in the sources reviewed.

Estimated Net WorthApproximately Rs 42 crore (estimated range Rs 40–45 crore), per Business Today, 6 September 2026 (unconfirmed)
Brand ValueNot publicly estimated
Key Brand EndorsementsL’Oreal Paris, Puma and Lenskart, as named in the Business Today article
Main Income SourcesCricket contracts and prize money during her career, endorsements and public work; no fees verified

Personal Life

Mithali Raj was born in Jodhpur to a family with an Indian Air Force background. The sources reviewed for this profile do not report her marriage or children, so no details are given.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mithali Raj

What is Mithali Raj’s net worth?

Business Today estimated her net worth at approximately Rs 42 crore (range Rs 40–45 crore) in a 6 September 2026 article. The article names no source for the figure, so it is unconfirmed.

When did Mithali Raj retire?

She announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket on 8 June 2022.

How many ODI runs did Mithali Raj score?

She scored 7,805 ODI runs in 232 matches, according to the career table in the source used for this profile.

How old is Mithali Raj?

Mithali Raj was born on 3 December 1982 and is 43 years old as of 2026.

Final Summary

From her ODI debut in 1999 to two World Cup finals as captain, Mithali Raj has left one of the most lasting records in women’s cricket.

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