Indian women’s team captain Mithali Raj appears as one of the calmest and composed individuals of the game and it was established more so after she shut a troll with befitting replies.
After she shared a tweet from Sachin Tendulkar where the former cricketer hailed the Indian women’s team series-victory against South Africa. Tendulkar also acknowledged Raj’s captaincy skills and congratulated her for completing 20 years in international cricket, a unique achievement that both the cricketers share.
Taking to her official Twitter handle, Raj shared Tendulkar’s post and wrote, “It feels nice to be acknowledged by a person who I have looked up to all my life .. thank you champion.”
It feels nice to be acknowledged by a person who I have looked up to all my life .. thank you champion 🙏. https://t.co/8BNwW2xf6j
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) October 15, 2019
While her fans, too, joined in to laud the Indian women’s team, a particular user tried to get under her skin. Out of nowhere, he questioned Raj’s linguistic preferences and commented, “She doesn’t know Tamil. She will speak in English, Telugu, Hindi.”
Despite many coming in the cricketer’s defense and correcting the user that Tamil is what she speaks in at her home, the user did not pay any heed and went about with his baffling criticism of her.
She doesn’t know Tamil. She will speak in eng, Telugu, Hindi.
— sugu (@vasugi29) October 15, 2019
She didn’t gave any interview in Tamil. Not even single word speak in Tamil during many events. Just like actress knows few Tamil.
— sugu (@vasugi29) October 15, 2019
She was born in Rajasthan due to her father transfer they moved to Hyderabad. Her grandfather is tamilian. She doesn’t know Tamil that’s fact. No more argument. If u r proud about tamilian y no players from TN only few players? If they got chance y they didn’t achieve like others
— sugu (@vasugi29) October 15, 2019
Mental. First of all go and watch her matches from the beginning. She is playing like test match as odi. I criticised her batting performance that only she mentioned. It’s not matter whether she knows Tamil or not.
— sugu (@vasugi29) October 16, 2019
But Raj did not buy all these and replied with a Tamil tweet saying that it was her mother tongue and pointed out that above everything she was a proud Indian.
தமிழ் என் தாய் மொழி..
நான் தமிழ் நன்றாக பேசுவேன்..
தமிழனாய் வாழ்வது எனக்கு பெருமை.. but above it all I am very proud indian ! Also my dear sugu ,you constant criticism on each and every post of mine ,you day to day advice on how and what should I do is exactly what keeps me going https://t.co/udOqOO2ejx— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) October 15, 2019
Mithali Raj is often regarded as the greatest cricketer to have graced the women’s game and her records speak volumes about that. She is the highest run-scorer in Women’s One Day Internationals (WODIs) and is the only female cricketer to cross the 6000 run mark in the said format. She is also the first cricketer from India (male of female) to score 2000 runs in Twenty-20 Internationals (T20Is).
The 36-year-old is the only Indian cricketer who has led the team to two ICC World Cup finals (2005 and 2017). In February this year, she became the first woman cricketer to play 2000 WODI matches during a series against New Zealand. During India women’s latest series against South Africa, she completed 20 years in international cricket.