The grand visions or aspirations of glory didn’t mark the journey to cricket stardom for Mithali Raj; it was, rather, born out of an attempt to keep her from sleeping too much. It’s a story of raw talent, unwavering dedication, and unflinching commitment to dreams unfolding against the canvas of a childhood that had little to do with cricket.

Eight-year-old Mithali would accompany her father, Dorai Raj, a retired Air Force sergeant, to her brother’s cricket coaching sessions at St. John’s Cricket Academy in Secunderabad. It wasn’t passion that drew her to cricket first; it was circumstance. While he got trained, young Mithali, armed with her schoolbooks, sat by the boundary, dutifully finishing her homework. Yet, in those quiet moments by the field, something extra-ordinary was about to happen.

The Accidental Cricketer

What started as boredom soon became destiny. Left with time on her hands after her studies, Mithali picked up a cricket bat. Her casual swings-seemingly ordinary to her-caught the eye of Jyothi Prasad, a former first-class cricketer and the coach at the academy. Prasad saw something in her-a natural grace, a spark, an instinct that couldn’t be taught.

“She has something special,” Prasad told her father, urging him to consider formal cricket training for the young girl. Soon after, Mithali was enrolled under Sampath Kumar, the head coach of Hyderabad’s age-group teams. This is where her journey actually started. Kumar was one mentor ahead of his times-a mentor who saw what others perhaps couldn’t. “I want your complete trust,” he told her parents. “I will make Mithali play for the country by the time she’s 14.”

It was a tall order, but then Mithali’s talent was well up to Kumar’s assertion. Yet, raw talent was only part of the equation. To truly excel, sacrifices had to be made.

The Art of Sacrifice

When she was barely ten years of age, Mithali had to make a choice-a difficult one faced by few kids. She had to choose between Bharatnatyam, a sort of Indian classical dance which she absolutely loved, and cricket, which needed total dedication. “Dancing was my love,” she said years later in an interview, “but cricket required all-out commitment.” Letting go of her cherished passion wasn’t an easy job, but the experience served as a useful lesson from early childhood days: where greatness is in the making, it is all about prioritizing your goals.

And so, the decision was only a starting point. Her routine grew rigorous: early mornings, serious practice sessions, and one track-mindedness for skill development that left little room for the childhood of a small child. But instead of resentment over the sacrifices she was called upon to make, Mithali seemed to revel in them. She learned to channel all her energy into every swing of the bat and each ball she faced. Cricket became less of a sport and more her identity.

Rising Through the Ranks

By the time she turned 14, Sampath Kumar’s prophecy had turned out to be true. Mithali’s skill had already caught the eye of the cricket selectors long before. Her debut as a 16-year-old kick-started an illustrious career that would last upwards of two decades. In her very first match, Mithali announced her arrival with a brilliant century, a feat that set the tone for her journey ahead.

Mithali had not only played cricket but went on to redefine it for women in India. With every boundary she hit, every record shattered, and every challenge faced, she paved the path for a million little girls to dream big.

Captain Cool: Leading by Example

It was not only a fight for glory that Mithali was going to enjoy in her rise. In due course of time, she evolved into one of the most respected leaders in the game. A calm and collected captain for the Indian Women’s cricket team, her teammates also referred to her as ‘Captain Cool.’ As for her leadership qualities, the flair was more about maintaining silence and performing on the field instead of making noise through loud speeches and all that.

Under her captaincy, India reached the World Cup finals twice, inspiring a generation of players and fans. Her calmness on the field, amidst adversities, became a hallmark of her legacy. Cricket for Mithali was never about proving a point, it was about playing for the love of the game.

The Legacy of Mithali Raj Mithali Raj’s career has been one of plain, dogged persistence, where latent talent finally came together with the will to strive, where every sacrifice seemed only like the next step in reaching for success. She broke barriers, records; she did it all. Becoming the highest run-getter in women’s international cricket, the record holder of most consecutive fifties in ODIs-she became the hope for Indian women’s cricket.

Beyond the statistics, Mithali’s legacy is one of inspiration. Her story reminds us that greatness often starts in the most unassuming places. It’s about finding opportunity in the mundane, whether it’s swinging a bat out of boredom or chasing a dream no one else sees.

Lessons from the Life of Mithali Mithali’s story has so much to teach all of us, irrespective of the fields in which we may operate. First, talent often shows up when one least expects it. A seemingly casual enterprise can become an extraordinary venture if it is cared for. Secondly, great things are done only with necessary sacrifices: be it forsaking some personal passion, or a routine that slowly begins to become brutal, success demands a disciplined life, along with prioritizing over other options. Finally, leadership is not about commanding attention but quietly setting an example; it is being the steady anchor in turbulent waters. And Mithali Raj did that every time she stepped onto the field, showing the world that grace under pressure isn’t just a trait; it’s a way of life. 

Celebrating a Trailblazer As Mithali celebrates yet another year of this great journey, she still remains the beacon of hope and inspiration. And that’s what her story reminds us: that maybe the boundary lines we sit by today could very well be starting points of tomorrow’s dreams. It is not about where you start, but the vision and hard work you put in, coupled with resilience in the journey. On behalf of Team ES, happiest birthday to the Captain Cool of Indian Women’s Cricket, Mithali Raj. May her story continue inspiring generations to dream big and work even harder, to celebrate something extra ordinary in the most ordinary.

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others. 

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