New Delhi: Indian women cricket team’s seniormost player Mithali Raj in all likelihood will bring down curtains on her T20 International career after the home series against England while continuing in the 50-over format where she is still the captain of the side.
While India’s three-match T20 series against New Zealand starts in Wellington on Wednesday, it is still not clear whether Mithali will be a part of the playing XI. Even if she is picked in the playing XI, it has been learnt that the 36-year-old will not continue beyond the three-match T20 series against England, starting March 4 in Assam’s Barsapara.
“Mithali understands that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will like to concentrate on building a team for the 2020 World T20 and that she is unlikely to feature in that tournament,” a senior BCCI official told PTI.
“But a player of her stature should get a warm send-off and that is likely to be against England,” the official said. There are indications that Mithali may not be selected in all the matches against the ‘White Ferns’ and she has been made aware by a senior member of the team management.
It is understood that Mithali can read the writing on the wall and the cricket board will give her chance to retire on her own terms from the shortest format. (PTI)