Mithali Raj's legacy in Women's World Cup (Source: @ICC/x.com, @mipaltan/x.com)
Consistency is an art, but those who run consistency with unreal talents are the real legends. India, a cradle of sporting brilliance, has gifted the cricketing world with players whose skill, determination, and flair have not just served the game; they have carved their own legacy.
Although cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, Women’s cricket is still lagging a little behind. Proving that fact, if we ask who has played the most editions of the World Cup, without a second thought answer will be Sachin Tendulkar. Though it’s correct, but another question arises from the answer itself.
It was not mentioned whether the World Cup is men’s or women’s. A female cricket superstar has matched Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most World Cup appearances. Still thinking the name? Let’s explore who the legend is.
Who is the trailblazing icon of women's cricket?
In India, the excitement and love for cricket run deep in the veins. As every cricket match pushes the thrills to the sky, the World Cups do some different kind of magic. As the marquee event arrives once every four years, there is always something new to discover. Amid the spectacle, certain legends have left an indelible mark, gracing the grand stage across multiple tournaments and carving out timeless legacies.
As Sachin Tendulkar graced the men’s ODI World Cup stage the most number of times, with six times, Indian cricket has another legend with the same feat. Although women’s cricket arrived on the World Cup scene a bit later, with its inaugural edition in 1973, it has showcased some of the finest cricketing icons, and one Indian star has left an unforgettable mark across multiple editions.
The India Women’s team played a crucial part in the journey of the tournament, and former captain Mithali Raj stunned the cricketing world, matching a record of endurance and brilliance. Like the Master Blaster of men’s cricket, she holds the record for the most appearances in Women’s ODI World Cups, featuring in six editions and redefining consistency at the highest level.
The remarkable journey across six World Cups since 2000
In the 2000s, when Women’s cricket was struggling hard on Indian soil for recognition, Mithali Raj’s entry was a massive boost for the side. Making her ODI debut for India in 1999, the former India skipper participated in six ODI World Cup editions from 2000 to 2022. Though her journey began with a promising start in 2000, illness briefly interrupted her campaign.
Starting her journey with the blow, she made a fierce bounce back in the next season in 2005. Leading India with determination and skill, she guided the team all the way to the World Cup final, only to face a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Australia, a tough loss that could not dim her grit.
Coming back in the next edition in 2009, she channeled her excellence and continued it into the next edition in 2013. As the Indian Women shattered the stage in the 2017 edition of the marquee tournament, Mithali Raj added another feather to her crown. As she guided India to the second World Cup final, she equaled Australian legend Belinda Clark’s record of leading the side in multiple ODI World Cups editions.
A legacy, more than just stats
Just not leading the side, the 50-over format brought the best out of her in all these years of her career. Across her World Cup career, she amassed 1,321 runs in 38 matches, including two centuries and 11 half-centuries, making her the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer.
With those incredible records, she just doesn’t elevate her own stats; she raised the nation’s pride. Equaling the exclusive with Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s, she created an undisputed legacy in Women’s cricket. With both Tendulkar and Raj, India boasts two icons who have defined consistency and excellence on the ODI World Cup stage.
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