Indian women's ODI skipper Mithali Raj on Saturday (April 24) hinted at international retirement, stating that the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand will be her "swansong".

"It's been 21 years of international cricket and I know 2022 is my swansong, The World Cup," Mithali said during the virtual launch of the book '1971: The Beginning of India's Cricketing Greatness', published by Harper Collins and co-authored by Boria Majumdar and Gautam Bhattacharya.

"The last year is equal to the 20 years of my international cricket," she added.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian women’s cricket team didn’t play international cricket last year after the T20 World Cup in March.

Mithali, 38, revealed how she had to keep herself motivated during the COVID-19 times which also pushed the quadrennial event by one year.

"I know we are in difficult times but it takes a lot out of me to keep working on my fitness. I am not getting any younger, in fact I am getting older and I know the importance of fitness," Mithali said.

"The importance of being in a very good emotional and mental set-up, knowing that there will be very few tours before the World Cup."

Indian women are slated to play four bilateral series – away tours in England, Australia and New Zealand and a home series against West Indies before the showpiece tournament next year.

"Every tour (from now on) is important for me as a batter as to how I am going to get the team to regroup and build a team for the World Cup," she said.

"Yeah, I am very optimistic looking at the girls and in the manner they have been working with whatever facilities they have in these times and focus and enthusiasm that a series is coming up."

According to Mithali, fast bowling is one department that the team needs to improve upon.

"We definitely need to look at a few players and prepare them for New Zealand, so yeah."

(With PTI inputs)