Mithali Raj reaches Hyderabad amid fanfare; CM awards plot and Rs 1 crore
The India Women’s captain Mithali Raj reached her hometown, Hyderabad, after welcome ceremonies in Mumbai and New Delhi following the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
After an exhilarating yet entertaining campaign in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017 which saw Mithali Raj’s team take giant strides towards becoming a household name in India, the 34-year-old captain finally reached her hometown in Hyderabad amid much fanfare.
Mithali Raj, who captained India in the recently-concluded tournament in which her team lost to England in the final, was awarded a 600-square yard plot in the Banjara Hills area in Hyderabad along with Rs 1 crore by the state chief minister, according to a Deccan Chronicle report.
Mithali played in her fifth and final World Cup for India, captaining her team for the second time but unfortunately could not lay her hands on the coveted trophy.
READ | Indian women’s cricket team present signed bat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Nevertheless, she returned home having firmly established herself as one of the most formidable cricketers in the 50-over format as she became the first to have crossed the 6,000-run mark in limited overs cricket.
Mithali finished just one run short of the tournament’s leading run-getter. In nine matches, Mithali hammered three fifties and a century to score 409 runs at 45.44.
READ | Women’s World Cup star Deepti Sharma wants to master carrom ball like R Ashwin
On Friday, when she finally reached her hometown, the Hyderabad airport turned into a chaotic place as fans turned up in large numbers to welcome Mithali. There was also a group of young girl cricketers with welcome messages, but Mithali could not even look at them as she was taken away within five minutes from her arrival, in company of her parents Dorai Raj and Leela.
Former India player GS Lakshmi, who was also among those present to welcome Mithali said, “Mithali is calm and composed but a gritty girl. I have seen her evolve as a player and as a human being too. She has taken the team to the next level and now it’s in hands of the future players to handle it properly and take it further.”
Catch all the Latest Cricket News, Live Cricket Score and IPL 2024 Schedule, India vs England Live Score match updates along with Cricket Schedule, WPL 2024 and other related updates on Hindustan Times Website and APPs