Mithali Raj looks forward to playing the 2021 Women's World Cup

Indian women’s team skipper Mithali Raj has stated that she’s not ruling herself out of the 2021 World Cup. She said that as long as form and fitness aren’t a hindrance, she would continue to play for the country. The 34-year-old who led India to the final of this year’s Women’s World Cup had earlier mentioned that the fifth appearance would be her last in World Cup cricket.

However, now she sounds confident of playing another one if the chips don’t go down. Mithali in the recent World Cup went on to become the highest run getter in the world in Women’s ODIs. She vows to play the tournament again if she can overcome the rigours of the next three years.

Not writing off

“I am not writing off playing the next World Cup but I will have to get through these next three years to get into the fourth year for that World Cup,” Raj told PTI today. “It is also important for me to see and analyse how my form is by then (2021), so right now I am looking at the World T20 and the other matches I get to play in 2018,” she added.

Ever since the conclusion of the World Cup, the Indian team has had enough time in their schedule to rest, with no matches to be played till January next year. However, with so many prizes and felicitations for various members of the women’s team, Mithali only recently got the time to unpack. She didn’t have any complains though with the kind of recognition women’s cricket was attracting.

“It has been really busy since July but it feels nice to be appreciated and treated at par with men’s cricket. People want to know more about the lives of women cricketers. It was not the case back in 2005,” the Indian skipper added.

Domestic season will help us prepare for the tour of South Africa next year

Talking about their next assignment, Mithali remarked that she and her team were looking forward to the domestic season in December that will form the basis of their preparations before flying to South Africa in February for the ICC ODI Championship.

“The domestic season starts in December and that will act as preparation for the South Africa tour. It will also be the beginning of getting back into the game for players after a three-month lay off,” she said.