🗓️ On This Day in 1999: Mithali Raj’s Iconic Debut That Redefined Indian Women’s Cricket
On this very day, June 26, 1999, a 16-year-old girl from Jodhpur walked onto a cricket field in Ireland and began a journey that would eventually transform the face of women’s cricket in India. Her name: Mithali Raj.
Making her ODI debut for India against Ireland at Milton Keynes, Mithali scored a scintillating 114 not out, announcing herself on the global stage in the most emphatic fashion.
🎯 A Debut to Remember – 1999
- Match: India Women vs Ireland Women, 1999
- Venue: Milton Keynes, England
- Score: Mithali Raj – 114* (debut match)
- Result: India Women won by a commanding 161 runs
In an era when women’s cricket received little mainstream attention or investment, Mithali’s performance turned heads across the cricketing world. Calm, composed, and confident, she showed the poise of a veteran in her very first outing.
🏏 Building a Legacy: 10,868 Runs of Brilliance
Mithali didn’t stop at just one glorious innings. Over the next two decades, she rewrote record books and became the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket—a staggering 10,868 runs across formats.
Career Breakdown:
- ODIs: 7,805 runs
- T20Is: 2,364 runs
- Tests: 699 runs
- Total: 10,868 international runs
- Centuries: 8 | Half-Centuries: 85
- International Span: 1999–2022
Her grace with the bat and her calm demeanor under pressure earned her global respect and admiration. She captained India in multiple World Cups, leading the team to the final in 2005 and 2017, bringing women’s cricket to the forefront in India.
🧢 Leader. Legend. Trailblazer – 1999
Apart from her achievements with the bat, Mithali was a visionary leader. Under her captaincy, India transformed into a formidable unit and inspired a generation of young girls to dream of donning the blue jersey.
Her composed leadership and unshakable focus helped Indian women’s cricket build its identity—strong, competitive, and global.
🏆 Awards and Recognition
- Arjuna Award (2003)
- Padma Shri (2015)
- Khel Ratna (2021)
- ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade nominee
📢 Today’s Tributes- 1999
As #OnThisDay trends across cricket circles, fans, former players, and sports bodies poured in tributes:
“She laid the foundation for women’s cricket in India. Her debut century was the start of something special.” — Harmanpreet Kaur
“Mithali Raj is not just a cricketer, she is a movement.” — BCCI Women
👏 A Career That Inspired a Generation
From her record-setting debut to her graceful exit from international cricket in 2022, Mithali Raj carried the hopes of a nation and created a legacy that continues to empower young female athletes today.
26 years later, the echoes of that maiden century still inspire — reminding the world that greatness doesn’t need fireworks, just quiet, unwavering excellence.
📌 Mithali Raj’s debut wasn’t just a beginning. It was a revolution.
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