Mithali Raj's brother doesn't want his sister to be compared with Sachin Tendulkar

Mithali Raj is the only cricketer in the history of women’s cricket to have completed 6000 ODI runs. The first lady of the Indian women cricket team has an average of over 50 in both ODIs and Tests. As a child, Mithali wanted to become a Bharatnatyam dancer. Her father Dorai Raj used to take her to the St John’s coaching camp along with her brother when she was 10.

As time progressed, Mr Dorai understood that his son Mithun may not make it big, but daughter Mithali certainly has the fire in her belly. Mithun, who is currently in Visakhapatnam for office work, wants her sister to inspire the young women cricketers of the country. Under Mithali’s leadership, India is attempting to seal a semis berth playing against New Zealand.

Mithali is compared with the ‘God’ of cricket Sachin Tendulkar who has scored the maximum number of runs in men’s cricket. But brother Mithun wants to avoid any such comparison. “It has been a very great and proud moment for all of us. It was expected that she would score runs and become the world record holder in this mega event. Her consistency of scoring runs is remarkable,” he said.

“As a brother, it is a very great feeling for my sister being in the company of the greatest player. But again comparison between the two can not be done here. Sachin has created so many other world records and set milestones. At the end of the day, both are different individuals. My sister can be a role model to other young women cricketers of the country,” said the proud brother on the telephone while speaking to Kashmir Times.

When asked about Mithali’s dismissal for a golden duck in the match against South Africa on Saturday, he calmly replied “I did not watch that game but read it that this was her first golden duck in her ODI career. But that is always a first time and can happen with any cricketer of the world and we don’t regret it for it.”

Before her turn to walk out to bat Raj had been reading books on the sidelines of the ground. Her brother revealed that she likes to read books and autobiographies when not on field or batting. “It reduces the stress level. Even she keeps reading books during her leisure time at home,” he added.

Mithali is 35-years old now. When asked about the retirement plans of her, Mithun said: “She is 35 but still scoring runs and we don’t know whether she has any plan to retire in near future. But it will be totally her decision and will respect whenever she decides to hang her boots.”

No plans for marriage yet

Mithali is only concerned about her cricket now and has not thought out marriage yet. “There has been no immediate plan for her marriage but again, that will be her personal decision (when to marry and whom to marry). We shall respect her intentions,” he concluded.