Team India captain Mithali Raj makes history, breaks World Cup captaincy record

India skipper Mithali Raj scripted history on Saturday as she broke the record for most matches captained in the ICC Women's World Cup. Raj had now surpassed former Australian skipper Belinda Clark's record of leading her team in 23 matches. 

India on Saturday went against West Indies in the team's third match of the ICC Women's World Cup 2022. With this match, Mithali Raj has now captained India for the 24th time in World Cups. Mithali, 39, has now led the country in 24 World Cup games, claiming 14 victories, 8 losses and one no result.

Interestingly, Mithali and Clark are the only two cricketers to have led their countries at more than two World Cups.

Last Sunday, Mithali became third cricketer and first woman to appear in six World Cups, joining the iconic Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistani great Javed Miandad.

India had elected to bat first in the match against West Indies at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The Indian side managed to post an impressive total of 317 for the West Indies side to chase. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur both scored centuries during India's innings. Mandhana ultimately got out at 123 while Kaur managed to score 109 runs. The duo forged a 184-run partnership for the fourth wicket. 

India so far is having a mixed tournament. Having played two matches with one loss and one win. The Indian side managed to beat Pakistan in their first match of the tournament but lost to New Zealand in the second. 

The Mithali Raj-led side went down by 62 runs in its second league stage match of the ICC Women's World Cup in Hamilton on Thursday. New Zealand, who have dominated the Indians throughout this summer, didn't let anything change in a familiar script by first scoring a healthy 260 for 9. They then choked the 'Women in Blue' before bowling them out for only 198 in 46.4 overs.

(With PTI Inputs)

Also read: Mithali Raj becomes first woman cricketer to play in six World Cups