Mithali Raj retires from T20 Internationals
New Delhi: Senior India batswoman Mithali Raj on Tuesday called time on her illustrious T20 International career to focus on one-day cricket, keeping 2021 50-over World Cup in mind.
The 36-year-old senior opener has captained the country in 32 T20Is, including the three women's WT20 World Cups in 2012 (Sri Lanka), 2014 (Bangladesh) and 2016 (India).
"After representing India in T20 internationals since 2006, I wish to retire from T20Is to focus my energies on readying myself for the 2021 One Day World Cup," said Mithali, who had captained Indian women's first-ever T20I played in Derby back in 2006.
Mithali ended her T20I career as India's top-scorer in the format with 2364 runs from 89 matches at an average of 37.5 and a highest score of 97 not out. She made her T20I debut in 1999 and played her last match in March against England in Guwahati.
Mithali is also the first Indian woman to reach the landmark of 2000 T20I runs.
"It remains my dream to win a World Cup for my country and I want to give it my best. I thank the BCCI for their continuous support and wish the Indian T20 team good luck as they prepare for the home series against South Africa Women," she said in a BCCI press release.
Mithali has also played in 203 ODIs and scored 6720 runs at an average of 51.29 with seven hundreds. She has also played in 10 Tests with 663 runs and one hundred.
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Indian opposition condemns Khamenei killing; Modi government yet to comment
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress has condemned the joint US-Israel strikes that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
In a statement, the Congress said it “unequivocally condemns the targeted assassination” of the Iranian leader, describing it as “in a military strike carried out without a formal declaration of war.”
The party termed the development a serious escalation and raised concerns over the implications for regional stability.
Meanwhile, the Government of India has not issued any formal statement specifically on Khamenei’s reported killing so far.
On Saturday, the Narendra Modi government had expressed concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East, as the United States, Israel and Iran exchanged missile strikes. However, it stopped short of directly commenting on the reports regarding the Iranian leader’s death.
India has traditionally maintained working relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, alongside its ties with the United States and Israel. Further official reaction from New Delhi is awaited.
