Cricket was a way to wake up lazy Mithali Raj early, reveals Mithali's father

The Indian women's cricket team is on the brink of entering the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup and the skipper Mithali Raj has played a pivotal role in the success of the team with the bat and her leadership skills. The 34-year old has scored two half-centuries so far in the tournament and recently became the first woman to score seven consecutive fifties and is on the cusp of becoming the highest run-getter in women's limited overs cricket. 

Mithali's father Durai Raj revealed that it was to try to break a bad habit of her's that introduced her to cricket.

"I had put my son in cricket camp. Mithali was very lazy, so to wake her up in the morning, I used to take her along. Casually I used to play with her there. It was my friend Jyoti Prasad who spotted the talent and the potential in her. After that there was no looking back.", Durai Raj told CNN News 18.

However, Mithali's mother Leela shared the pressures of the society they had to bear as parents while promoting her as a cricketer.

"How can you allow you daughter to play cricket? What if she gets an injury on her face, who will marry her? That time anyone who heard about a girl who was playing cricket, raised questions," she said.

"I never bothered about these comments. I supported her decision. She chose dancing or cricket, for us her interest was most important. For me my daughter was achieving greater heights every game and I was proud of her. After every injury, I was worried about how soon can she make a comeback on field.", she added. 

From her early days, Mithali never backed down from a challenge and faced everything head on. 

"Once Mithali was playing with boys without helmet. She got injured and got 4 stitches on face. Next day she was on the field again for the match. She was even rewarded for this game," narrated Durai Raj.

The Indian skipper's parents also gave an insight regarding Mithali's mindset before any game.

"If you give your 100% and play to your best, you will automatically break records and win matches. We only tell her to enjoy her game", they said. 

India will take on South Africa today in the fourth match of the tournament and a win would ensure them a semi-finals berth.