Bristol: When Indian women's team captain Mithali Raj takes the field in Bristol on Sunday, she will become only the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to play 22 years of One-day International (ODI) cricket. Tendulkar played for 22 years and 91 days while Mithali would have spent just a day over 22 years when she goes out for toss against England captain Heather Knight on Sunday. The 38-year-old's debut was on June 26, 1999 at Milton Keynes against Ireland. She was only 16 then.  


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Over the course of 22 years, she has scored 7,098 runs with seven centuries and 55 half-centuries in 214 women's ODIs. The Jodhpur-born player is the only one in women`s cricket to score over 6,000 ODI runs. She has also scored 2364 T20 International runs.


"Feels nice to get up to messages congratulating me on my career," said Mithali during a press conference on the eve of the first ODI against England. 


"If I have to give a message to a 16-year-old, I would say enjoy getting on to the ground, first time representing your country, which clearly at that time... the expectation was so heavy on my shoulders that I didn`t get the opportunity to understand the importance of wearing the blue jersey and playing for the country, that is something I would say to the 16-year-old Mithali," she added. 


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In her ODI debut 22 years ago, Mithali racked up an unbeaten 114 and shared a 258-run first-wicket partnership with fellow opener Reshma Gandhi, who too cracked a century -- 104 not out. India won that match by 10 wickets.


Since then, Mithali has gone from strength to strength.