‘Mithali Raj skipped BCCI awards to train for Australia tour’

Mumbai: India's 33-year-old woman cricketer Mithali Raj could not arrive in the city to collect the MA Chidambaram Trophy at the BCCI's Annual Award function on Tuesday because she is busy playing domestic matches in Kolkata. This was revealed by her father, Dorairaj.

Mithali has been chosen as the Best Woman cricketer (senior) for her performance in 2014-15 season.  This is the second time she won this trophy in her career.  

"Mithali is preparing for the forthcoming tour of Australia. She has been out of the house since 40 days and working very hard,” Dorairaj told Deccan Chronicle.

"She has played domestic one-dayers and now participating in T20 matches,” he added.

Mithali will lead the team for three one-dayers and T20 matches.

"She is likely to come home on January 20, will take rest for a couple of days and then, fly to Australia tour,” he said.

Like Team India's ODI captain Dhoni, Mithali has also not decided about her retirement plan. 

"She is determined to play the Women's World Cup in 2017 (to be played in Australia) and wants to retire on a high. She also wants to perform well in the ICC World T20.”

"She is obsessed with the game and started playing at the age of 10. She had a desire to play the matches at the higher level at the age of 16 and break Sachin Tendulkar’s record. She almost did it and played the first ODI against Ireland in 1999,” said her father.