Was hurt with the axing in 2018 T20 World Cup semis: Mithali Raj

The axing of Mithali Raj from the playing XI of the 2018 T20 World Cup semifinal against England came as a surprise to everyone. Although India lost the game, the decision led to a series of events subsequently including the sacking of then-coach Ramesh Powar, the former ODI skipper admitted she was disappointed to have not played the game.

“Honestly, I was quite disappointed that I couldn’t play. But it is something that has happened with every player,” Mithali was quoted as saying in a Star Sports show. “I am not the first person with whom this has happened. It is about the team composition and maybe the captain and coach felt that they had a better player to fit into the eleven.”

ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana aspires to become a match-winner like Virat Kohli

She also said, had India won that match, she may play in the final. “But I always had hopes that if we win that match, I may have the chance in the final, I will be able to contribute, and we have a better chance to win the Cup. That was my intention of reaching out to the players in the huddle to pep them up, ‘give your best, you might not get such chances time and again’.”

India’s highest run-getter in T20Is, Mithali accused Powar of biasness and also threatened to retire if she was made to bat lower down the order. She retired from the shortest format of the game in 2019. The 37-year-old recently said that she is ‘definitely looking’ at the Women’s World Cup, which has been postponed to 2022 and added that her eyes are firmly fixed on the trophy.

Last week, the ICC decided to postpone the mega event, originally slated to be held in New Zealand in 2021, until February-March 2022 because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.