Mithali Raj hints at a comeback in the inaugural Women’s IPL

Former Indian player and skipper Mithali Raj could make a comeback to cricket and feature in the inaugural edition of Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) planned for next year.

The Board of Control for India (BCCI) is planning to launch the tournament sometime early in 2023.

Raj, who announced her retirement from cricket recently, spoke about her ambition to play in the Women’s IPL on an ICC podcast hosted by former England player Isa Guha and New Zealand spinner Frankie Mackay.  

“ I'm keeping that option open. I've not yet decided. There are a few more months to go before the women's IPL happens. It would be lovely to be part of the first edition of the women's IPL,” Raj said.

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Raj has represented India Women in 12 Tests, 232 ODIs, and 89 T20Is between 2002 and 2022. 

The 39-year-old also praised India’s upcoming batting star, Shafali Verma. Verma has dazzled the cricketing world with her explosive batting since making her debut in 2021.

“I have been a big fan of her game. I have seen that she's one player who has the ability to win the game single-handedly for India against any attack and any team. She is one of those players that you get to see probably once in a generation,” Raj explained.

Raj, the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket (10,337) and Women's ODIs (7,805) gave insights into her time away from cricket after playing for 19 years and 262 days.

“I thought it [retirement] would slow down my lifestyle, in the sense that I don't have to plan my day, week or next series. After I announced my retirement, I was down with Covid, and when I recovered from that I got involved in the promotional events of the movie [her biopic Shabaash Mithu, which released in theatres in India earlier this month],”

“So far it is as hectic as it has been [as a player], there's no change to my lifestyle yet. Maybe when all these things die down, I'd probably feel the difference of what it is post-retirement,” Raj explained.

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