Mithali Raj reached a personal milestone of 3000 ODI runs during the Asia Cup triumph.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Mithali Raj: Captain Success!
After leading India to a fourth consecutive Asia Cup triumph, skipper Mithali Raj – who reached a personal milestone of 3000 ODI runs during the tournament - spoke to us about her young side, their unbeaten run in the tournament, the future tours and more…
You have just led your side to yet another Asia Cup crown. The girls must be overjoyed? What is the mood like in the camp and is there a great sense of accomplishment right now?
Oh yes! It has been the fourth successive win for the Indian side at the Asia cup. So it is good that the team has won at the start of the season as a preparation for the World Cup. It has done a lot of good for the confidence levels of the team as a whole.
Doesn’t that say a lot about how the country is growing as a dominant force in women’s cricket?
As we prepared for each Asia Cup match, we had a feeling that there could be surprises along the way. Just like when Bangladesh beat Pakistan, it gave us some jitters. However, this time I think all matches were one-sided. We are happy that the ratio and margins of the victories were high. So it is very good…
Talking about some of the individual performances… Rumeli Dhar was really outstanding in the tournament - both with the bat and the ball- she is really turning out to be a valuable all-rounder for India. What do you have to say about her contribution this time and in general?
I think she is one of the best all-rounders in the world. She contributes with the bat as well as the ball. This is seen from the World Cup as well. So I think it is good that we have a rare talent in our side. She will be very useful in the future as well.
Jhulan was brilliant with the ball, as always. What do you have to say about her performance?
We are very fortunate to have her in the side. Otherwise she would have caused havoc to the Indian batters if she was representing any other side! These girls have matured from the time they made their debut and it is good. In a very short while, they have learnt a lot about international standards. They are always trying to improve their individual performances.
What about Seema Pujare, she has done really well this time around?
This was her debut series, but it did not seem like she was making her debut. She was high on confidence! Probably her experience in the domestic circuit helped her on this tour.
The side was packed with a lot of youngsters; Snehal Pradhan, Gouher Sultana and Seema Pujare (was making her debut as well)… What do you have to say about all these youngsters? Have you been impressed, as a captain?
The youngsters must have been nervous apart from Seema. Those girls have played four-five years of domestic cricket and this is their first tour. They have never really been exposed to international standards. But I think the debutants made use of the opportunity; whenever they had one. The way they have performed will only give other juniors confidence as the look to play for the country. Things will become more competitive back in India.
When the squad was announced there were a few surprises - No Anjum Chopra, no Hemlata Kala or Nooshin Al Khadeer. The senior players were missing from the side. Were you as a captain nervous about going into this tournament without the backing of those experienced players?
I was not nervous but I was a little apprehensive for the fact that we can’t take any team lightly no matter what series it is. However, at some point, we need to try out youngsters in the side. So when the team was announced I was a little apprehensive. But I knew the responsibilities would be more for the senior players with the juniors in the side. As the tournament progressed, the juniors learned more about their role and performed accordingly.
What do you have to say about the selectors? They have done a great job and got about a balanced side. Even though there were youngsters there was the backing of players like Neetu David - who is a highly experienced cricketer. Was it good work by the selection committee?
Well, yes, they did a good job for the Asia Cup. But I would say the other challenging series coming up are the England and Australia-New Zealand Tours. We will need an experienced side for those tours. So that is a different chemistry altogether. But again, this team for the Asia Cup was really good.
You must be very happy with your own performance. You started off with a century and then followed it up with a few more match-winning knocks. Especially that performance in the final. You must be happy with your batting?
Yeah, am very happy the way the runs have come. Any batsmen would be happy to be in form and get a lot of runs. So I hope to continue the same form in the upcoming series as well.
There was a very special milestone that you reached during this Asia Cup. You became the only Indian woman to register 3,000 runs. That must feel mighty special?
Well, I was very happy that I reached the 3,000 runs mark. I personally never knew about it and I was actually told by the management that I need a few runs to reach that milestone and that is how I planned my innings. Milestones give you a lot of confidence so I am happy about that.
There are only five women on the international circuit who have reached that milestone. Being so young, you must be feeling very special to be a part of the elite club…
Yeah, when you are considered in that category where you are one of five members in the world who have reached three thousand runs, it feels special. I am very happy!
The confidence of the team must be very high going into the future tours. You have the England tour and lots of small tournaments coming up. You girls must be very confident looking ahead to those tours and of course the big World Cup next year?
As a team we are very confident, but every tour has its own challenges. Accordingly, if we prepare well I am very optimistic about the team doing well.
-As told to Mamta Joseph
