An era in women's cricket ends as Mithali Raj retires

women's cricket, which spanned more than two decades, came to a 'reluctant' end on Wednesday. Hyderabad's legendary player Mithali Raj, who was literally 'pushed' into the game by her mother Leela Raj, finally called it quits. Mithali has set several records in her illustrious career and her aggregate of 10,868 international runs in 333 matches — ODIS, Tests and T2OI — will take some beating. With most runs in women's cricket and the only Indian captain - man or woman - to have led the side in two 50-over World Cup finals, the 39-year-old, however, retires without the World Cup trophy in her cabinet.

Read AlsoMithali Raj: The first and biggest superstar of women's cricket

The first superstar of women's cricket, arguably the most 'correct' batter in the game, a trailblazer: these sobriquets aptly describe Mithali Raj. Long before she arrived on to the international scene as a 16-year-old and scored a hundred on debut, Mithali was destined to be a great of the game.

It was this deep desire to finish as a winner which kept Mithu, as she was fondly called by her family and friends, pushing all boundaries. She was reluctant to call it quits without fulfilling her dream but "like all journeys, this one too must come to an end" as she poignantly noted in her retirement message. "I set out as a little girl on the journey to wear the Indian blues as representing your country is the highest honour. The journey was full of highs and some lows. Each event taught me something unique and the last 23 years have been the most fulfilling, challenging & enjoyable years of my life," Mithali stated in her message.

Mithali made her ODI debut at the tender age of 16 and scored an unbeaten 114 against Ireland at Milton Keynes in 1999. "The