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Full name Mithali Raj
Born December 3, 1982, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Current age 26 years 36 days
Major teams Air India Women, Asia Women XI, India Women
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Legbreak

Batting and fielding averages

Mat

Inns

Runs

Ave

100

Tests

572

214

52.00

ODIs

108

3302

114*

46.50

T20Is

51*

79.00

96.34

Bowling averages

Mat

Inns

Balls

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Ave

Econ

Tests

2.66

ODIs

108

171

3/4

11.37

3.19

21.3

T20Is

Career statistics

Test debut

India Women v England Women at Lucknow, Jan 14-17, 2002 scorecard

Last Test

England Women v India Women at Taunton, Aug 29-Sep 1, 2006 scorecard

Test statistics

ODI debut

India Women v Ireland Women at Milton Keynes, Jun 26, 1999 scorecard

Last ODI

Australia Women v India Women at Canberra, Nov 9, 2008 scorecard

ODI statistics

T20I debut

England Women v India Women at Derby, Aug 5, 2006 scorecard

Last T20I

Australia Women v India Women at Sydney, Oct 28, 2008 scorecard

T20I statistics

Mithali Raj at 19 emerged as one of India's most capable batswomen with a staggering 214 against England in the second and final Test at Taunton. The middle-order bat now has the second highest score in women's Test cricket, having been surpassed by Kiran Baluch who scored 242 against West Indies in March 2004.

Playing for Railways in the domestic competition, Mithali began by playing with stars like Purnima Rau, Anjum Chopra and Anju Jain for Air India. Now, though, she has emerged as one of India's most dependable bats, scoring heavily in both one-dayers and Tests. Her composure when at the crease and ability to score briskly make her a dangerous customer. In addition to her ability with the bat, Raj rolls her arm over bowling leg-spinners and providing variety to any attack.

Raj has grasped every opportunity she has been presented with - and impressed. Coming to the wicket at times when batting is difficult, Mithali has shown an ability to soldier on without being perturbed. A star in the one-dayers, Mithali was taken ill with a strain of typhoid in the CricInfo Women's World Cup in 2002, seriously hampering India's progress. However, she then led them to their first World Cup final in 2005, in South Africa, where they met Australia who proved just too strong. In August 2006 she led the side to their first-ever Test and series victory in England and wrapped up the year winning the Asia Cup - the second time in 12 months - without dropping a single game.

But that high was followed by a disappointing Quadrangular where India were placed bottom of the table at the end of the tournament despite winning more matches than England, placed third in the table. ICC's bizarre rule-making meant that despite the fact that England lost all their group matches they gained third spot for beating India in a play-off. Raj had an unimpressive run with the bat in the tournament with one fifty from seven games.

In May 2008 she led India to their fourth successive Asia Cup title and reached the 3000-run landmark on the way. India have not dropped a single game in the tournament since it began in 2004. But a poor tour of England later that year, where India failed to win a single game, lost her the captaincy.

Cricinfo Staff (October 15, 2008)