Mithali Raj @200: Five Best ODI knocks of the Legend

February 1st, 2019 will go on to be remembered as a day of great importance for India's very own legend, Mithali Raj. The third and final ODI of the series against New Zealand, will be her 200th game in the format, and at 19 years and 219 days of her cricketing career, it is a line which no other woman has ever crossed, till date.

The stalwart of international women's cricket has successfully managed to carve her own niche in the minds of a million fans, that too in a cricket-crazy country where her male counterparts share the status of being no less to Gods themselves. Apart from the longevity of her career, another factor that makes her a fan-favourite is her terrific batting skills, with Mithali also being the top-scorer in women's ODI cricket right now. The 6613 runs she has scored, includes 7 hundreds and a marvellous 52 fifties.

On this important occasion, let us take a look at some of her best ODI knocks, in chronological order.

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#1 114* v Ireland Women (1999)

Mithali Raj crafting her splendid innings

In the only ODI of the series, held at Milton Keynes on 26th June 1999, Mithali made her debut aged just 16 years and 205 days. Her talent and skill required not much time to unfurl, as she went on to open the innings, eventually becoming the youngest female cricketer to make a century.

Raj and Reshma Gandhi (104*) - another debutant, added 258 for the first wicket, and the partnership was unbeaten. The duo carried their bats at the end of 50 overs too. In reply, Ireland batted through the whole of 50 overs to score just 97 for the loss of 9 wickets, giving the visitors a sensational victory.

Raj's and Gandhi's 258-run stand was a national record for a long time. To this date, it also remains the 3rd best opening-wicket partnership of all time.

Fun fact: Mithali Raj while playing the game, did not realise then that the game would count as her debut. The team too thought that they were playing an unofficial game - it being an only ODI game after a Test series in England - and it was only later that they found out otherwise.

#2 69* vs South Africa (2000)

Mithali uplifted the team in a low scoring encounter

Mithali Raj's international debut against Ireland, where she scored a whirlwind 114* - was followed by scores of 4 and 0 in her next couple of games. Despite her disappointing returns in the international circuit, her domestic form remained strong enough to keep her in contention for the Indian women's contingent to New Zealand, so as to play in the Women's World Cup 2000.

Raj was considered crucial for India's success in the tournament, and so it proved to be. She made a solid impact in India's opening game against South Africa, with her unbeaten half-century backing up the efforts of the Indian bowlers who earlier restricted the Protean girls for 128/8 in 50 overs.

In a chase of 129, Raj played 95 balls and struck 11 fours en-route to an unbeaten 69. Despite some keen bowling performances by the Indians, she was also elected best player of the match.

Mithali's place and worth in the squad would soon be known, as Team India struggled in her absence following her premature departure from the squad due to illness. The side bowed out in the semis, but not before the world saw two more of her crucial knocks, one against Netherlands and the other against England.

#3 91* vs New Zealand (Potchefstroom, 2005)

Mithali with the help of middle order coasted India to a good total on the board.

This, by her own assessment is her favourite knock, because it came when the team needed it the most and took India to their first World Cup final. It also needed her to overcome a bad knee injury to drag her team to a challenging total against a strong New Zealand side.

Asked to bat under gloomy skies, and facing some of the fastest bowlers at the time, India were 38/2 in the 14th over when Raj, a young captain hungry to prove herself, got together with Anjum Chopra. The duo began slowly, soaking up the pressure of a modest run-rate, putting the onus on not taking too many risks in their stand of 66 off 18.4 overs.

Raj then found support in the middle order and teed off. Her last 40 runs came at almost a run-a-ball, as India posted 204/6. By then her knee was swollen, and she had to sit out the fielding innings as her team completed a historic 40-run win.

#4 103* vs Pakistan (Cuttack, 2013)

Her hundred dominated the chase of a tricky 193

The ICC Women's World Cup 2013 hadn't gone well for India. Playing at home, they crashed out in the group stages. But there were play-off matches for every position, and even the seventh-place play-off match that they were designated to play, became a do-or-die contest as it was against arch-rivals Pakistan.There was only pride to play for – but a lot of it. There was harsh criticism around the team and Raj's captaincy, and she chose this moment to answer all of it, while also reminding her team of a few important lessons.

We had to literally pull ourselves up this morning for the game but as professional cricketers we know that these things happen," she said after the game.

On a ground where no team in the competition had chased more than 105, her hundred dominated the chase of a tricky 193, sealing a six-wicket win. No other Indian player made more than 26. She even hit a six along the way.

#5 109 vs New Zealand (Derby, 2017)

Raj made 109 of her team's eventual total of 265

Mithali Raj yes a relatively-successful World Cup 2017 as India themselves managed to reach the finals, where they were subdued by England. Meanwhile, Raj made a few compelling knocks herself, such as in the game against Australia when she crossed Charlotte Edwards' mark to be the highest run-scorer in women's ODIs. But it wasn't a happy moment for her, as India lost the game and had their knockout chances at stake. In the next game against New Zealand however, she took the most charge among the Indian batters so as not to lose anymore.

She made 109 of her team's eventual total of 265/7, forging solid partnerships partners with Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy. The knock came off 123 deliveries and included 11 fours, but what was also notable was how she kept the scorecard ticking with good running.

It put a lot of pressure over New Zealand, and a stellar bowling performance had them bowled out for 79 for a comprehensive 186-run win to seal their spot in the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 semi-final, which again they won to process to the finals.