On August 17, 2002, India Women legend Mithali Raj broke into record books with her 214-run knock against England Women in a Test match played in Taunton. Bowling first after winning the toss, India skipper
Anjum Chopra elected to bowl first. Riding on exceptional bowling from Neetu David (4/71) and Jhulan Goswami (3/51), the visitors bundled out the hosts on 329. Following the score, India lost openers Sunetra Paranjpe and Mamatha Maben early but Mithali allied with Anjum Chopra and built a 55-run stand for the third wicket. Anjum departed after racking up 52 off 151 but Mithali stayed in the middle and stitched a crucial 144-run partnership with Hemlata Kala.
Kala got run out after chipping with her crucial 62 off 149. After building vital partnerships with Anjum and Kala, Mithali allied with the tailender Jhulan Goswami and delivered a 157-run stand. Mithali went on to become the first India Women batter to produce a double ton. She shattered Australia’s KL Rolton’s feat of an unbeaten 209 against England in 2001 and became the batter with the highest individual score in an innings of Women’s Tests (WTest) . The contest eventually ended in a stalemate and Mithali became the player of the match (POTM) for her stunning batting display.
Kiran Baluch bettered Mithali Raj’s batting record
MithaliRaj’s batting feat was shattered by Pakistan Women’s Kiran Baluch, who played a 242-run innings against the West Indies Women in Karachi in March 2004. Baluch’s milestone is unbroken, so far. However, Mithali is still the highest individual scorer for India in an innings of women's Test.
In June 2024, Shafali Verma played a 205-run knock against South Africa Women in Chennai and became the second India batter to hit a 200 in a women Test innings. Thus far, only two India batters have succeeded in scoring double tons in the longest form of the sport.
