NEW DELHI: India’s ODI skipper Mithali Raj says she is focussed on winning the World Cup next year to complete some unfinished business and finish her career on a blaze of glory.
Twice India came close to winning the World Cup but the team could not lift the coveted trophy. Under Mithali’s leadership, India reached the final of the 2017 World Cup final but lost to hosts England. A year later in the West Indies, India were knocked out in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup.
“In 2013, when India hosted the world cup, we didn’t even qualify for the super six stage. I was hurt and quite disappointed,” she said on Star Sports 1 Telugu show Girl Power-Sarileru Manakevvaru.
“I thought let me give a try in 2017 World Cup. Then I really worked hard for that World Cup. As a player, as a captain, I did a lot of homework. I thought when we were in the finals, if we win the finals, then I will retire.
“After playing for so many years, probably I had everything, except that one World Cup. In 2021 again I am going to give another try, hopefully with everybody’s wishes and God willing we should crack it.”
The 37-year-old Mithali, who retired from T20 cricket last year to concentrate solely on ODIs, said she aspired to join civil service before cricket became a part of her life.
“Honestly cricket happened to me. It didn’t come by choice. I didn’t choose to get into cricket. You can see, my teammates, those who have different stories, like they played with their brothers and some of them were inspired by their brothers. They played in streets.
“But (for me) it was nothing like that. My dad took me to the academy there whatever transpired, and I was straight away into a full-fledged academy for girls.
“I was too young to make a choice. If at that time somebody could ask a 10-year-old Mithali, what you want to become, I would have said that I wanted to become an IAS officer. Not a sportsperson, not a dancer. I always felt I had it in me to be an IAS officer.” (AGENCIES)
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