Might return to play women's IPL: Mithali Raj
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New Delhi: India's legendary woman cricketer and former skipper Mithali Raj threw hints to the wind that she might come out of retirement to play in the inaugural women's IPL, which is believed to be launched next year, IANS reported. The tournament could be a six-team event.
The star batter, who recently retired, told the ICC's 100 per cent cricket podcast, "I'm keeping that option open. I've not yet decided. There are a few more months to go before the women's IPL happens. It would be lovely to be part of the first edition of the women's IPL."
Further, she talked about star batter Shafali Verma's game. "I have been a big fan of her game. I have seen that she's one player who has the ability to win the game single-handedly for India against any attack and any team. She is one of those players that you get to see probably once in a generation."
"When I saw Shafali in a domestic match when she played against Indian Railways, she scored a fifty, but I could see a glimpse of a player who could change the entire match just with her innings," Mithali said.
"And when she played for Velocity in the first edition of the Challenger Trophy (women's T20 Challenge 2019), she played for my team, and I saw that she has the ability and the raw power that you rarely get to see at that age to clear the boundary and hit a six at will."
Talking about her retirement, "I thought it (retirement) would slow down my lifestyle, in the sense that I don't have to plan my day, week or next series. After I announced my retirement, I was down with Covid."
She said that when she recovered from Covid-19, she got involved with the promotional events of "Shabaash Mithu", the Hindi language biopic made on her life, starring Taapsee Pannu.
She concluded, "So far, it is as hectic as it has been (as a player), there's no change to my lifestyle yet. Maybe when all these things die down, I'd probably feel the difference of what it is post-retirement."