The former captain of India, Mithali Raj, has expressed interest in playing in the first Women’s IPL. Mithali Raj made the announcement of her retirement from all formats in June of this year. A 23-year international career came to an end for her. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is expected to introduce the competition, which might have six teams, the following year. However, there hasn’t been much progress that has been acknowledged officially.
“It would be lovely to be part of the first edition of the women’s IPL,” said Raj in her conversation on the ICC’s 100% Cricket Podcast. I’m keeping that option open. I have not yet decided. There are a few more months to go before the women’s IPL happens,” she added.
I have not yet decided: Mithali Raj
She further continued, “I am delighted to be a part of the 100% Cricket Podcast project. It is a commendable initiative from the ICC to raise the profile of women’s cricket. The overarching 100% Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket campaign has increased not only the visibility but the talkability of women’s cricket. Ambitious ideas need boldness and fortitude and I’m honored to be a part of such an important project.”
Mithali Raj is one of the most successful women’s cricketers in the country. Having played in 232 ODI matches, she now holds the record for most ODI caps in women’s cricket. With 7,805 runs at an average of 50.68, she is the leading scorer among female ODI players. She scored 2,364 runs in 89 T20Is. Furthermore, she has 699 runs in 12 Tests including a century and four half-centuries. After the excellent e-auction of the IPL media rights, which brought in a total of about Rs 48,390.32 crore, BCCI secretary Jay Shah earlier this year stated that BCCI is totally dedicated to introducing the Women’s IPL starting next year.