NEW DELHI: Former Indian women's cricket team captain Mithali Raj recently opened up about her awkward encounters with potential grooms, revealing some uncomfortable moments during these interactions.
Reflecting on the experience, Mithali shared that she was often 'taken aback' by the type of questions posed to her, finding them unusual and sometimes irrelevant.
As one of the most celebrated figures in women’s cricket, Mithali, holder of multiple international records, admitted that societal expectations and traditional matchmaking processes occasionally felt at odds with her career and individuality.
Despite being one of the most successful cricketers of her era, Mithali revealed that several potential suitors had asked her to give up cricket, insisting that her primary responsibility after marriage would be raising children.
"I didn't get that sense, honestly (that they were talking to Mithali Raj). Now these calls were set up by my mother's sister, so I agreed to talk. So after the pleasantries, they would dive straight into post-marriage scenes, discussing how many kids they wanted. I was on the backfoot because those were the things I never imagined, nor did I ever discuss with anyone. I would always think about Indian cricket. So yes I was taken aback by some of those statements, of how many kids I want or that I have to let go of cricket," Mithali said on famous Youtuber Ranveer Allahabadia's podcast.
"I was the current Indian captain then. One of them said you have to leave cricket because after marriage you have to look after the kids. I was still absorbing those statements. I don't remember his name, though. The strangest question he asked was, 'If something happened to my mother, would you look after her or go and play cricket?' straightway replied saying, 'What sort of question is this?' He said: 'I need to know what is more important to you.' And I replied saying, 'That will depend on the situation.' I don't exactly remember what I said next, but it clearly put me off," she asserted.
