Cricket: Mithali Raj announces retirement from international T20I

New Delhi : Team India's former skipper Mithali Raj has announced her retirement from the T20 Internationals on Tuesday. The 36-year-old led India in 32 T20I matches, including the three editions of the Women's WT20 in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

Announcing her retirement, she said, "After representing India in T20 internationals since 2006, I wish to retire from T20Is to focus my energies on readying myself for the 2021 One Day World Cup. It remains my dream to win a World Cup for my country and I want to give it my best."

"I thank the BCCI for their continuous support and wish the Indian T20 team good luck as they prepare for the home series against South Africa Women," said Mithali Raj.

She was the captain of Team India in the very first T20I played in Derby in 2006. Since then she has scored 2364 runs, the most by an Indian woman in T20Is.

She is also the first Indian woman cricketer to reach the landmark 2000-run mark in the T20I.

India women are scheduled to play a five-match T20I home series against South Africa, starting on September 24. Later in February-March 2020, the T20 World Cup will be played in Australia.

She will however continue to play for Team India in the long-format games, eyeing the World Cup 2021.