Mithali Raj

“Initially, I was into dance and learnt Bharatnatyam for eight years. I appeared on various TV shows.”

“All the people who were needed to be told about my decision were informed. 2021 World Cup would definitely be my swansong. I am looking forward to preparing for the World Cup.”

“The Qualifier is a different standard to what we will face in the World Cup in England. The conditions will be different, the pressure is different, double or treble what we faced here. This will give a base for all the young players rather than go into World Cup raw.”

“I would love to mentor youngsters.”

“Men's cricket sets the bar. We are always trying to reach where they set the standard.”

“As a batter, I would want to see that the best bowler is in my side so I don't have to face him.”

“If only a few games are televised and you don't have a follow-up, like no live coverage of the Sri Lanka series after the Australia series, where we did so well, things will not improve.”

“When you are on the field as a captain, the mind is always working. You cannot relax at any point of time. You are always focussing on what is going to be the next move, what if it doesn't work, what if the situation changes and you have to change your plan.”

“As a captain and as a player I wanted to lead the team well and score runs, because I know the team still depends on me very much.”

“I began my journey as a captain when I was just 21-22 and leading the Indian side for so many years has helped me also grow as a person. My growth as a person pretty much has happened on the ground along with teammates.”

“Even though I am someone who played one-dayers more, I have equally prepared hard for the T20 format too.”

“The first thing my mom told me after I reached Hyderabad was that I won't be going out on a two-wheeler.”

“A lot of people have a different perspective on this but my personal view is that while things have become more professional with we being centrally contracted, we don't play as regularly as the men do. The number of matches we play is too less as compared to men.”

“Cricket is not gender biased. It isn't that men's cricket is different and women's a different one.”

“When I made my debut I had a lot of seniors in the side, then players of my own age group, then juniors and now am rubbing shoulders with teenagers. It's actually the fourth generation of players and a rarity for a player to achieve it.”

“It is important for me, no matter whether I lead or not, that I continue my form even in the World Cup. It is important that you get runs because people look up to you, and the team also expects you to get runs being a senior member of the side.”

“Fitness is getting creative as gym equipment is not available at home. I am making do with the resources I have. I'm being given a schedule I can follow by my trainer. Of course it is not close to the exercises I can do in the gym. But I am trying to do as much as I can to maintain my strength.”

“All of us follow men's cricket because we want at some point that women's cricket would be up there.”

“I think at some level the ICC is trying to promote the women's game globally and that requires them to focus more on ODI and T20I cricket. They are trying to revive the game.”

“I'm not saying the fact that I am the best T20 player. No! I know where I stand.”