Wisden Picks Mithali Raj As the Women’s Cricketer of the year 2017

When Mithali Raj burst on the international cricket scene, there was no such thing as T20 cricket. Social media didn’t exist. Back in 1999, there being no dearth in the quantum and number of world class talents in the sport, with legends like Sachin, Inzimam, Waugh brothers, Akram, Warne, McGrath, Donald, Lara around- you hardly bothered to even check if a women’s game was on or not. Elaborate bi-lateral series that ended in seeing ODIs following Test matches being the precedent happened too infrequently and on occasions most weren’t aware of. A Big Bash League hadn’t been installed in the sport. And truth be told, there weren’t many keen takers of Women’s Cricket either.

Today as Mithali Raj- captain of the Indian ODI side and the highest scorer ever in the format- looks behind, she can be glad for myriad reasons. Today Women’s cricket has reached a stage where we hear about facets like the Women’s Ashes- a salutation to cricket’s oldest and arguably greatest rivalry. Top rank talents are finding their feet in testing waters of international cricket by appearing in key contests such as Women’s Big Bash League. At least there are rumours about a futuristic Women’s IPL. Moreover, apart from the fact that even those in the men’s sphere remain involved to find out the outcome of a World Cup contest, leading publications on the sport are coming forward to recognise outstanding women cricketers and going as far as hailing them in the same light as those in the men’s game.

So when someone like a Wisden- a doyen of cricketing insights and knowledge- anoints Mithali Raj- the most capped player in the history of the Women’s game in ODI- as the woman cricketer of the year 2017, it tell us a thing or two about how greatly the context and stature of the women’s game has changed. Rightly adjudged as the women’s player of 2017 by Wisden, Mithali Raj can give herself a pat on the back. Not only for being an outstanding ambassador of the game; arguably right up there with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid- but for also upping the ante of recognition of the women’s game.

It is a faction of Cricket that has otherwise, needlessly been subdued by a open culture of bias that seemingly flows to recognise only the achievements in the men’s game. The occasion also marks great respect to an inspirational cricketer who is- truth be told- way more than just the runs she has scored, the fifties and hundreds she has stuck and the impact she has lent to uplift the status of the women’s game across the world.

That in Mithali Raj, India have a leader who is as calm as solid in technique and as focused as she is sagely aloof from the meandering of the press and the attention paid to the women’s game pays homage to a rare breed of a cricketer. By crowning Mithali Raj as the leading women Cricketer of the year 2017, Wisden have attempted to throw light on a unique bastion of international women’s cricket. After all, Mithali Raj is both- a source of inspiration for the many talents in posterity and a constant reminder to keep up with excellence for those engaged in the contemporary game.