ENGW v INDW 2021: I don't look to please people- Mithali Raj slams criticism of her strike rate

Mithali Raj scored 75 runs in the third WODI against England women.

Mithali Raj | Getty

Mithali Raj led her team to a four-wicket win against England women in the third match of the WODI series. The 38-year-old carried her bat with a masterful 75 and ensured that her team ends on the winning note. 

Mithali Raj during her innings also went past England’s Charlotte Edwards to become the top run-getter in international cricket across formats with over 7300 runs in ODIs, 2364 runs in T20Is, and 669 runs in Test matches. 

Indian women skipper Mithali Raj gave a stern reply when asked about the criticism of her strike rate in the ODI format.

Addressing the press conference Mithali Raj while talking about the criticism about his strike rate, said that she doesn't play to seek validation or to please people as she plays according to the role that is assigned to her by the team management. 

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“I do read that the criticism is about my strike rate, but as I have said earlier also, I don't seek validation from people. I've played for a long time and I know that I have a certain responsibility in the team.

“I don't look to please people. I'm here to play the role that is assigned to me by the team management. When you're chasing a target you pick your bowlers, you pick your length, you pick the areas,” Mithali Raj said during the virtual press conference. 

Mithali Raj further said that she’s in a good flow and she wants to make the best use of her time in the middle as the entire batting unit revolves around her. She added that it is important for her to understand the situation and try to get the match as close as possible.

“Because I'm in a good flow, I need to make the best use of me in the middle and the entire batting unit revolves around me. 

“That's the job that is given to me by the coach and I look forward to sort of not get bogged down because at some point I know that the top order is already in the dugout and it was important for me to understand the situation and how I can maneuver and try to get the match close as possible with the batters who are yet to come," she said 

Even though Indian women won the last WODI, they lost the series 2-1. Both teams will now lock horns against each other in the three-WT20I series, starting July 9.

(PTI inputs) 

 
 

By Ankitjit Singh - 05 Jul, 2021

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