Mithali Raj breaks massive Women’s World Cup record, goes past Australia’s Belinda Clark for huge captaincy feat

Team India captain Mithali Raj continues to shatter records at the Women’s World Cups. After she became the first women’s cricketer – and third overall – to appear in six World Cup editions, Mithali broke another major record at the event on Saturday when the side took on the West Indies in Hamilton. Mithali went past Australia’s Belinda Clark for most appearances as captain in the tournament.

Clark, the former Australia star who had captained the side in 101 women’s ODIs, led the Aussies in 23 Women’s World Cup games across three World Cup editions (1997, 2000, and 2005). She lifted the trophy twice as the captain of the side. Mithali made her 24th appearance as captain in the tournament on Saturday.

With a winning percentage of 63.63, Mithali has led India to 14 victories in 23 appearances at the Women’s World Cups so far. Clark’s record as the captain of Australia in the tournament remains phenomenal, with her Australian side winning 21 of 23 matches, with only one loss.

Here is the list of top-5 captains with the most appearances at the Women’s WCs:

*Mithali Raj (IND): 24*
*Belinda Clark (AUS) – 23
*Susan Goatman (ENG) – 19
*Trish McKelvy (NZ) – 15
*Mary-Pat Moore (IRE) – 15

Earlier, India made a winning start to their Women’s World Cup campaign in the current edition, with a dominant 107-run victory over neighbors Pakistan last week. However, the side endured a 62-run defeat to New Zealand in their second match of the edition. Following the defeat, the side’s head coach Ramesh Powar urged the senior players to take more responsibility with the bat.

“I want seniors to be putting their hand up, like Mithali (Raj), Smriti (Mandhana), Jhulan (Goswami), and win us the games single-handedly, because their participation and contributions in the win will brush off on the younger players,” said Powar.