Dubai: The disarming frankness about Mithali Raj, one of the most enduring stars in women’s cricket, hits you in a conversation. Whether it’s an argument as to why their game has wallowed in obscurity for long to a query about ‘settling down,’ the captain of Indian women’s cricket team who received Padma Shri last week – one of the country’s highest civilian honours – is refreshingly candid.
Speaking on being the first Indian women’s cricketer to be conferred the honour, Mithali said in a recent interview that with Virat Kohli’s name also in the running, she was “pleasantly surprised” at actually receiving the award.
But with an illustrious career spanning over 14 years and being one of the prolific batswoman, hasn’t she already done enough to deserve it? “I am happy that the government of India bestowed this honour on me. We will have to accept the fact that women’s cricket cannot really be compared with the men’s game in India because it’s always in the news,” the 32-year-old told Gulf News over phone.
At a time when a number of women’s achievers in Indian sport have caught the imagination like MC Mary Kom, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal or the young shuttler P.V.Sindhu, women’s cricket still finds itself wanting in recognition. Mithali, however, does not see it as a surprise. “Unlike an individual sport, ours is a team game where you have got to be an exceptional performer to be recognised. We have always had an easygoing calendar but now there is a new format whereby we should be playing more series. There is no follow-up really in women’s cricket...we have to market the game more.”
The ‘easygoing’ calendar, in her words, perhaps explains itself as in a long career, Mithali has played in 153 One-Day Internationals (nearly 5000 runs) and 47 Twenty-20s while there are only 10 Test matches show for. However, she still has a double century against her name – 214 against England soon after debut – which remains the second highest individual score in women’s Tests. Asked to pick up the high point of her career, Mithali however recalled an innings of 90-plus in a World Cup semi-final in 2005. “It was my first World Cup as captain and the innings helped us make the final for the first time where we lost to Australia. It’s one of my cherished memories while the innings of 214 came so early in my career that it has become quite a blur in memory. All I remember is that I had spent one and-a-half days at the crease,” she said with a chuckle. Along with the likes of England’s Charlotte Edwards, Mithali is certainly one of the elder statewoman of the game – a fact that she wears quite lightly on her shoulders. “I am glad you put it that way,” she says, going on to add: “Charlotte also started very young. When I started playing there was a separate board running the game in India and there would no hype or press conferences and there would just be small articles reporting the matches. Now, when you do something good, its highlighted…I think the game has come a long way.”
Talking about World Cups campaigns, the last edition in 2013 at home brought major disappointment for her as India were shown the door in the first round itself. The next edition, scheduled in London in 2017, could be her fourth Cup – form and fitness permitting but Mithali shows no signs of slowing down.
“If I am still there as a player, I would like to do well there though I don’t know whether I will lead. Motivation is never a problem, you cannot afford to lose it as the team looks forward to you. I have survived because I wanted to progress and I don’t want to be a liability for the team,” she said.
As a sportsperson who is certainly approaching the last leg of her career, the obvious question of marriage and ‘settling down’ came up next. Without flinching, Mithali opened up: “You are right…the obvious question often is about getting married and settling down. This sport has made me very independent, both financially and mentally. My parents have often asked me about it but I will take the plunge when I am ready. I can get married at 40 but at that age, I can’t come back and play.
“I am pretty career-oriented and am pretty open about it,” she continues, before adding: “If I have to be in a relationship, I have to give it time and focus on it. I can’t divide my time as I still have a lot to give to our cricket, so I can’t manage both.”
Does she ever feel that consciously or not, she is making a statement for the women in India?
“For me, living a life like this is a matter of choice. It’s completely up to me to lead my life,” she rested her case.
