Mithali Raj: Bonafide greatness

Mithali is undoubtedly India's greatest batswoman, finishing as their highest run-getter in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. She is also the highest run-getter in Women's ODIs.

She was awarded Arjuna Award in 2003, Padma Shri in 2015 and Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna in 2021 by the Indian government

Mithali's storied international career began way back in 1999, when she made her debut against Ireland and scored 114 not out

Mithali, who has a top score of 214 in Tests, was named India's captain at only 22 years of age

Mithali Raj became the captain of the ODI side in 2005 and the team responded by making the final at the Women's World Cup that year. It was the first of the two World Cup finals she would lead India into.

Mithali later led India to the final of the 2017 ODI World Cup, a tournament that would change the landscape of women's cricket in India

Be it reading Rumi while she awaited her turn to bat or her one-liners in press conferences, Mithali became a cultural icon during the tournament

After making the 2005 World Cup final, India went one better at the Women's Asia Cup and earmarked themselves as the best team in the subcontinent. Since then, it's been a case of rise and rise for India.

As the BCCI realigns its focus on Women's Test, Mithali was at the helm of it all recently, leading India against marquee fixtures against England and Australia

Mithali was at the forefront and leading troops in the Women's T20 Challenge too, a tournament that's expected to fructify into a Women's IPL in 2023

Mithali was named the Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World in 2017