This Padma Shri Winner Has Made India Proud Not Just Once Mithali Dorai Raj became the first cricket player to make 6,000 runs in WODIs in 2017

By Aashika Jain

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Entrepreneur India

The first captain to lead India to an ICC ODI World Cup final twice, Raj has set a precedent for women to choose their dreams over societal expectations. Regarded as one of the greatest cricketing batters, Raj believes in pursuing what she wants to do. The highest run-scorer in women's international cricket and the only female cricketer to surpass the 6,000 run mark in ODIs, she won the Padma Shri in 2015 and is also the recipient of the Arjuna Award.

"There are few things in life you can achieve when you have to take decisions. I have taken a decision to pursue my career and struggled a lot, faced a lot of challenges. I don't just consider societal norms," Raj says. Her top three tips that can lead any woman to success include a lot of self-belief and self-confidence, being independent in one's thoughts and being strong mentally. Raj led India to ICC ODI World Cup win in 2005 and 2017. She also led the team to 2005 Women's Cricket World Cup finals, where they lost to Australia.

The year 2017 belonged to Raj. In February, she became the second player to make 5,500 runs in WODIs. In July, she became the first player to make 6,000 runs in WODIs. She led the Indian team to the Women's Cricket World Cup finals. The team lost to England by nine runs. In December, she was named as one of the players in the ICC Women's ODI Team of the Year.

This article was first published in the March issue of Entrepreneur Magazine. To subscribe, click here)

Aashika Jain

Entrepreneur Staff

Former Associate Editor, Entrepreneur India

Journalist in the making since 2006! My fastest fingers have worked for India's business news channel CNBC-TV18, global news wire Thomson Reuters, the digital arm of India’s biggest newspaper The Economic Times and Entrepreneur India as the Digital Head. 
Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

News and Trends

No Outsourcing, No Shortcuts: The Rise of One of the World's Most Self-Reliant Business Groups

Nowhere is this more evident than in sectors like agriculture, logistics, and manufacturing industries, where the journey from raw material to finished product spans vast networks and countless hands.

News and Trends

IIT Madras Launches INR 200 Cr Alumni-Backed VC Fund to Boost Startups

The fund will primarily focus on pre-Series A and Series A investments, targeting early-stage ventures, especially those incubated at IIT Madras.

News and Trends

Belong, Green Aero, and Enercomp Solutions Raise Early-Stage Funding

The below brands have announced their latest funding rounds.

News and Trends

Cyprus-based Maritime Companies Announce FDI of ₹10,000 Cr for the Indian Shipping Sector

The FDI is marked as the largest ever in the Indian shipping sector since this sector was opened to 100% FDI in the year 2005.

News and Trends

Samarsh Capital, Vyom Partners, Blue Lotus Lead INR 50 Cr Investment in Sai Parenterals

The fresh capital will be used to fuel its global expansion strategy, including acquisitions in regulated markets, enhancement of its manufacturing footprint, and diversification of its product portfolio.