Mithali Raj Family Tree: The Story Behind India's Women's Cricket Legend

Mithali Dorai Raj, born 3 December 1982 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India (raised in Hyderabad), is India women's all-time leading run-scorer in international cricket (10,000+) — captained India to two ODI World Cup finals (2005 and 2017); 7 ODI centuries; 2003 Arjuna Award; 2015 Padma Shri; 2021 Khel Ratna. She retired in June 2022. Inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame: 2024.

The Family's Roots: A Tamil-Andhra Air Force Family

The Raj family is Tamil South Indian by ancestry; father served in the Indian Air Force.

Her Parents

Father: Dorai Raj — retired Indian Air Force airman; later a bank officer.

Mother: Leela Raj — homemaker.

Her Brother

Mithun Raj — Mithali's elder brother; cricketer who didn't go pro; introduced her to the game.

Her Personal Life

Mithali has been intensely private about her personal life and has never married.

The Raj Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Tamil South Indian; Indian Air Force service family.

Father: Dorai Raj — retired IAF; bank officer.

Mother: Leela Raj.

Brother: Mithun Raj.

Mithali Raj:

  • Born 3 December 1982, Jodhpur
  • Keyes High School, Hyderabad
  • Hyderabad women's debut: age 16 (1998)
  • India ODI debut: 26 June 1999 (age 16, scored 114 not out vs Ireland on debut — youngest woman ODI centurion until 2004)
  • India Test debut: 14 January 2002
  • India women's captain: 2004–2021
  • 2005 ODI World Cup: India runners-up
  • 2017 ODI World Cup: India runners-up
  • 7 ODI centuries; 10,000+ international runs (women's record)
  • Highest individual score in women's Tests: 214 vs England 2002 (held the record until 2004; remained the highest by an Indian)
  • Retired from international cricket: June 2022
  • Arjuna Award (2003); Padma Shri (2015); Khel Ratna (2021); ICC Hall of Fame (2024)

What the Raj Family Story Teaches Us

An Indian Air Force airman father turned bank officer. A homemaker mother. An elder brother who played cricket but didn't go pro — and introduced her to the game. A lifelong unmarried career. A 23-year India career that ended with the 2022 retirement.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Mithali story carries the same lesson. An older sibling's amateur sport often produces a younger sibling's professional career. Mithun's cricket is on the Raj family record alongside every Mithali century.

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