Jhulan Goswami pens down an emotional message for Mithali Raj on her retirement

Veteran cricketer Mithali Raj announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket on Wednesday. After a 23-year long career, She took to social media to make the announcement. She said in her statement that she would no longer play the sport, but she will remain active in the game and contribute to the advancement of women's cricket in India and throughout the world.

Several past and present cricketers thanked the legendary player for her years of service and wished her luck in her new innings. Jhulan Goswami, Mithali's long-time teammate and another game great, became emotional once Raj declared her decision.

Jhulan Goswami thanked her skipper on Twitter and reminisced how they met while playing U-19 cricket and conquered all hardships together. "We overcame odds, both in life & on the cricket field, ever since we started playing U19 cricket. Your affection & support as a colleague & captain always inspired and pushed me towards achieving greater heights. You were outstanding both on and off the field," she wrote.

Here is Jhulan Goswami's tweet

We overcame odds, both in life & on the cricket field, ever since we started playing U19 cricket. Your affection & support as a colleague & captain always inspired and pushed me towards achieving greater heights. You were outstanding both on and off the field. @M_Raj03 @BCCIWomen https://t.co/trPxGz6kBR

— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) June 8, 2022

The right-handed batter will be remembered for her incredible run-scoring exploits, including a record 7,805 runs in One-Day Internationals, nearly 2,000 more than former England captain Charlotte Edwards, who is the second-highest ODI run-scorer. She has seven centuries and a record 64 fifties in her ODI career. Mithali made 699 runs in 12 Tests, scoring a century and four half-centuries. In T20Is, she scored 2364 runs at an average of 37.52, with 17 half-centuries and a top score of 97 not out.

Raj earlier stated that representing her nation for numerous years was the finest honour she had ever received. "The journey was full of highs and lows. Each event taught me something unique and the last 23 years have been the most fulfilling, challenging and enjoyable years of my life. Like all journeys, this one too must come to an end. Today is the day I retire from all forms of international cricket," Raj said in her statement.