Mithali Raj isn't too keen on being compared to Tendulkar and Dhoni

Mithali Raj has become a household name in India, owing to her outstanding captaincy as well as batting heroics in the recently concluded ICC Women’s World Cup. While she’s happy with the positive impact it has made on the position of women’s cricket in the nation and worldwide, Raj isn’t particularly keen about being compared to greats of men’s cricket, the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.

Incidentally, she recently achieved the feat of completing 6000 runs in Women’s Cricket, a record nobody else has been able to attain. Women’s Cricket has long been ignored in the nation and this prejudiced notion has taken a turn for the better, with increased interest in the women’s game. Mithali credited the International Cricketing Council (ICC)’s all-round effort to market the world tournament and also lauded the decision of broadcasting all the matches.

Identity of her own rather than being compared

Off late, Mithali has been compared to batting legend, Sachin for her stunning display of batting in the Women’s World Cup, where India finished as runners-up. Although flattered, Mithali considered this comparison to be redundant. Explaining her take on this, she said, “On the one hand, being compared to Sachin is an absolute privilege. I don’t think I’ve achieved even half of what he did for the country. On the other, being a woman cricketer, I want people to know me for my own identity. I would rather not be compared to a male cricketer.”

Further, many spectators have found a resemblance between Raj and the most successful Indian skipper, MS Dhoni because of the calm demeanour the two have been famed to maintain on the field. However, 34-year-old termed her behaviour to be something that comes naturally to her and said, “I have always been like this. I want to keep a check on my emotions while on the field.”