Mithali Raj goes past Charlotte Edwards to become leading run-scorer in internationals

Mithali Raj, the captain of India's Test and ODI outfits, went past former England captain Charlotte Edwards to become the leading run-scorer in international cricket. Raj surpassed Edward’s 10,273 runs while leading India to the final-over victory against England in the third ODI at County Ground, in Worcester on Saturday (July 3)



Raj started her innings needing 12 runs to better the record. The lofted shot down the ground off Natalie Sciver in the 24th over sealed it for the Indian veteran. She was awarded Player of the Match for her unbeaten 75, which helped India register their first victory on the tour.



"I just needed to get the partnership to take it to the last. That's something that kept me going through the innings,” said Raj, in the post-match presentation. “I knew in the middle overs I could manage the game. When you have young players in the side, you need to guide them along, that's a responsibility."



Raj had completed 22 years in international cricket, when she stepped out in the first ODI. On Saturday, she registered her 84th win as a captain in ODIs, the most in the format for any skipper. She went part former Australia captain Belinda Clark's mark as a skipper.



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“It was not an easy journey. It had its own trials and challenges,” said Raj in the post-match media interaction, reflecting on her journey.



“I have always believed that trials always have a purpose. The hunger to score runs for India has never dried up. I am still very passionate to score runs and win games for India.”



Against South Africa in March this year, she became the first player to score 7000 runs in ODI cricket and is still the only one to do so. She has 58 half-centuries in the format, most by any player, to go with her seven centuries. She had crossed the 6000-run mark in the Women's World Cup in 2017.



In the longest format, Raj has amassed 669 runs, which is the highest among current players, from 11 matches at an average of 44.60. She retired from T20Is in September 2019 having scored 2364 runs at an average of 37.52 and a strike rate of 96.33 from 89 matches.